Alyssa’s shunt recovery
Donation protected
Alyssa Repic is nothing short of our own Wonder Woman, so we decided to try and help her. Alyssa is always there for all of us, at the drop of a hat no matter what time of the day it is.
She is strong, intelligent and cares so greatly for all of those around her. She finds fulfillment in making memories for her residents at the retirement home. She is an activities coordinator and has a beautiful rescue dogs Wyatt and Scully, and a rescue cat Oscar.
Alyssa has been struggling with a shunt malfunction/infection. Alyssa has a shunt in her brain ( right sided ventricular drain and another that goes into the posterior fossa/dandy walker cyst). Alyssa was born with dandy walker syndrome, and as a result this causes hydrocephalus. This shunt drains excess spinal fluid from her brain to her stomach. She has had multiple surgeries throughout her life and lately is suffering from an infection from a rare bacterial infection filling her shunt with puss causing it to malfunction and creating troublesome side effects.
Alyssa was written off from other doctors for months saying “it’s in your head, it’s psychological, it’s not your shunt” after finding a doctor willing to investigate and not write her off, this infection was discovered. She is required to go in for surgery on Monday February 26th 2018. She will be in the ICU for at least a month.
This surgery will consist of 2 parts, the first part removing the current shunt system from the brain and the abdomen. Then, she will have some external ventricular drains placed that will drain the infection for a week or longer. Once the infection is clear, the next step is they’re going to remove the external drains and place an entirely new internal shunt system into the ventricles and the dandy walker cyst.
During this time Alyssa will not be able to work and may need help paying back expenses including, bills that insurance will not cover, care for her dog and other bills and responsibilities.
We greatly appreciate anything you could donate and would be immensely greatful. Thank you very much for your time and we pray for a speedy smooth recovery for our lovely friend Alyssa Repic.

She is strong, intelligent and cares so greatly for all of those around her. She finds fulfillment in making memories for her residents at the retirement home. She is an activities coordinator and has a beautiful rescue dogs Wyatt and Scully, and a rescue cat Oscar.
Alyssa has been struggling with a shunt malfunction/infection. Alyssa has a shunt in her brain ( right sided ventricular drain and another that goes into the posterior fossa/dandy walker cyst). Alyssa was born with dandy walker syndrome, and as a result this causes hydrocephalus. This shunt drains excess spinal fluid from her brain to her stomach. She has had multiple surgeries throughout her life and lately is suffering from an infection from a rare bacterial infection filling her shunt with puss causing it to malfunction and creating troublesome side effects.
Alyssa was written off from other doctors for months saying “it’s in your head, it’s psychological, it’s not your shunt” after finding a doctor willing to investigate and not write her off, this infection was discovered. She is required to go in for surgery on Monday February 26th 2018. She will be in the ICU for at least a month.
This surgery will consist of 2 parts, the first part removing the current shunt system from the brain and the abdomen. Then, she will have some external ventricular drains placed that will drain the infection for a week or longer. Once the infection is clear, the next step is they’re going to remove the external drains and place an entirely new internal shunt system into the ventricles and the dandy walker cyst.
During this time Alyssa will not be able to work and may need help paying back expenses including, bills that insurance will not cover, care for her dog and other bills and responsibilities.
We greatly appreciate anything you could donate and would be immensely greatful. Thank you very much for your time and we pray for a speedy smooth recovery for our lovely friend Alyssa Repic.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tiffany VanBuskirk
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA
Repic Alyssa
Beneficiary
