What Is Shunt Happens?
So, what exactly is the story behind Shunt Happens?
Well, one—it is a pun. Obviously.
Shunt Happens is my little corner of the internet.
I might as well make it my whole personality. I mean, I am kinda stuck with this thing for life so, might as well talk about it.
I wish I could honestly take credit for the cool pun though because if you know me, well....you will figure it out.
I honestly remember having my PlayStation name as Shunt Happens and was like, yeah - let's run with that.
I mean, hey it's a great conversation starter; that's for sure but it also raises awareness for those like me. Relying on a medical device was not something I expected but here we are.
Two—it is probably the most accurate name I could have given my life.
Because shit happens. Shunt happens. But...we have to keep going.
Hi, I’m Courtney. Depending on where you know me from, you might call me CT. If you know me through gaming, you probably just call me Shunt. Either way, I am the girl behind the screen. Hi.
Let’s Start with the Obvious Question: What Is a Shunt?
I live with acquired obstructive hydrocephalus and a VP shunt. In 2012, I was diagnosed with obstructive hydrocephalus and Chiari I malformation, and a shunt was placed to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from my brain.
Basically, a shunt is a medical device that helps drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from my brain to another area of my body, where it can be absorbed. Mine runs from my brain down into my abdomen.
Yes, I have a tube inside my body that helps keep my brain functioning.
No, it does not make me a robot.
Unfortunately.
Shunt Happens Is My Real Life
My journey with hydrocephalus has included seven brain surgeries, shunt revisions, seizures, medical trauma, and a damaged shunt that went untreated for far too long.
In 2019, I spent ten days on life support. I woke up unable to walk or speak the way I had before. I used a wheelchair. I had to relearn things most of us never think twice about doing.
That version of me mattered.
The struggling version mattered. The angry version mattered. The version who could not regulate her emotions entirely mattered. The mother trying to survive for her child mattered. Every version of me built something the next version needed.
And because I am apparently stubborn as hell, I went from sitting in a wheelchair to completing two 20-mile Mammoth Marches.
That does not mean everything magically became easy. It means I kept going, even when the progress was slow, ugly, frustrating, or held together by caffeine and pure spite.
Why I Created Shunt Happens
I created Shunt Happens because medical websites can tell you what hydrocephalus is, but they cannot always tell you what it feels like to live with it.
They do not always explain the anxiety that hits when a new symptom appears and your brain immediately asks, “Is it the shunt?”
They do not explain the pressure headaches when the weather changes, the fear of being dismissed by a doctor, or how exhausting it is to advocate for yourself when you already feel awful.
They also do not talk enough about the life that continues outside the hospital.
Because I am not only a patient.
I am a mother. A wife. A web designer. A marketer. A gamer who is admittedly ass at games but has fun anyway. A hiker. A college graduate. A hydrocephalus advocate. And, yes, the girl behind the screen... (I really wanted to be Penelope Garcia growing up).
I wanted to create a place where I could talk about all of it—the serious stuff, the uncomfortable stuff, the wins, the setbacks, and the moments that are so ridiculous you either laugh or completely lose your shit.
Sometimes I do both. Balance.
It Is Awareness, but It Is Also a Conversation
Even the name Shunt Happens gets people talking.
Someone sees the username and asks, “What the hell is a shunt?”
Perfect. That is the point.
Whether I am blogging, sharing my scars, posting a travel vlog, hiking, talking about my career, or getting destroyed in a video game, the name creates an opportunity to talk about hydrocephalus.
Awareness does not always have to sound like a medical brochure. Sometimes it begins with a pun, a questionable joke, or someone being brave enough to share what life actually looks like behind the diagnosis.
What You Will Find Here
Shunt Happens is where I share:
My real experiences with hydrocephalus and a VP shunt
Brain surgery, shunt revisions, symptoms, recovery, and medical trauma
The importance of advocating for yourself when something feels wrong
Mental health, PTSD, disability, and rebuilding a life after everything changes
Motherhood, career growth, travel, hiking, gaming, and everyday chaos
Helpful information for patients, families, and caregivers
The person beyond the diagnosis—because there is so much more to us than a medical chart
I am not a doctor, and this blog is not medical advice. I am simply someone who lives with this every day and is willing to share the honest version. Every person with hydrocephalus has a different experience. If you have new, severe, or concerning symptoms, contact your medical team or seek emergency care.
So, What Is Shunt Happens?
Shunt Happens is proof that my story did not end in 2019.
It is what happened when I stopped trying to separate the patient from the person and realized they were both me.
It is where brain surgery meets brand strategy. Where scars meet sarcasm. Where fear and ambition somehow exist in the same big head of mine.
It is a place to learn, laugh, vent, question, advocate, and remind us that surviving is only one part of the story. We are also allowed to live.
Some people have tattoos. I have scars.
Some people have a simple story. Mine includes a tube running from my brain to my abdomen, seven brain surgeries, a few major plot twists, and enough dark humor to make it all slightly less terrifying.
Anyways, thank you for being here.
With love,
CT
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