Masons Donate to Carli's Angels for Hydrocephalus Research

by Steven A. Ghirardi

Steven Ghirardi, a member of Yorktown Masonic Lodge #1154 presented a donation in the amount of $1,000 from the 1st Westchester-Putnam Masonic Charities Corporation to Carli Clement for her fundraising efforts for Carli’s Angels and The Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation (PHF)(NY Chapter).

Carli Angela Clement is a 16-year-old high school student from our area who has an incurable illness called HYDROCEPHALUS. Hydrocephalus is also known as “Water on the Brain”. Hydrocephalus is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities of the brain. This causes increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head, convulsion, tunnel vision, and mental disability, (just some of the side effects of this condition). Hydrocephalus can cause death. It is more common in infants, although it can occur in older adults. To date she has had over 58 brain surgeries (2 just recently in the past 2 weeks) to relieve the pressure in her brain and skull caused by her incurable illness.

Carli is leading a normal life of a teenager, with a cheerful disposition but has a greater cause and desire than most. She has created a fund raising site and holds events for in person fundraising dedicated to The Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation (PHF)(NY Chapter), this is Carli’s Angels. Her efforts are geared to raising funds which go to the PHF for research and aid to children with the same illness, not for her specific treatment alone.

• Carli’s web-page will explain much more about Hydrocephalus & what Carli’s trying to do, it can be seen at www.carlisangels.org Donations can be made from this site.

• She also has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlis-Angels/185521634945040

• SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL HYDROCEPHALUS AWARENESS MONTH. She organizes an event, Carli’s Angels & The Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation (PHF) (NY Chapter), to raise Awareness & Funds. To date she has raised over $10,000 from her events.

• She has twice spoken in front of Congress in Washington D.C. about her cause

• She most recently spoke on a panel with 4 other Hydrocephalic teenagers as well as one of her neurosurgeons @ NYULangone about transitioning from childhood into young adulthood and having to make your own medical decisions (once she turns 18).

The Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, educates the community by raising the level of awareness about this brain condition. The PHF provides support to the families, friends and children who are diagnosed with Hydrocephalus.

The PHF raises money for and works with the medical community in searching for a cure and additional treatment options for those with Hydrocephalus. Additionally, the PHF advocates on behalf of the members of the Hydrocephalus community and works with policy makers at the State and Federal level to raise awareness and push for more research and support in our fight against Hydrocephalus. All donations are tax-deductible.