I was born with a condition called hydrocephalus, more commonly known as fluid or water in the brain. I have lived with this condition all my life and have had brain surgery 17 times as a result.

Hydrocephalus is a condition where an abnormal build up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles occurs. This can lead to severe pressure inside the head and result in an enlargement of the skull as the volume of fluid pressing against the brain and skull increases. Ultimately, the condition can lead to mental disability and even death.

I have an inoperable brain cyst the size of a tennis ball permanently lodged in my head and have suffered with severe headaches and pain as a result of my condition.

The cyst prevents my body from allowing the brain fluid that is generated inside my head following its natural course through the ventricles and down the tubes in my back. As a result I have a shunt, a tube which bypasses these natural channels and allows the fluid to drain away.

At the age of six I had a golf ball sized brain tumour removed which involved an eight hour operation. I am told I was lucky to survive.

I also had five operations at the age of 12 to correct various problems with the shunt as a result of the condition. This lead to me contracting meningitis and I became seriously ill.

I was unable to eat and the sight or thought of food would make me violently sick. As a result my weight plummeted from a healthy seven stone to three and a half stone as my body struggled to cope. I lost the majority of my muscle tissue and spent seven weeks in hospital. I had to learn to walk again and I know now that I was very close to death.

I still have the shunt today and the cyst is still inside my head, taking up the space where a large portion of my brain should be. I still suffer with headaches and there are days when I struggle to get out of bed or have a loss of balance as a result of pressure generated by a build up of fluid.