Coast to Coast for Hydrocephalus
Meet the Touchberry family, Todd and his wife, Jennifer, his daughter Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s Mom, Brandy Stevens. In August 2000, Todd and his wife Brandy were so excited that they were going to be parents. However, Brandy wasn’t prepared for the news she got when she went for her standard ultrasound to get measurements of the baby.
Their baby girl was diagnosed in utero with several abnormalities in her brain, including hydrocephalus, and Todd and Brandy were told that her prognosis was not good. The doctors told them that the odds were high that she would not make it and terminating the pregnancy now would be an option. But this was completely out of the question. The love that they had for their daughter was already tremendously strong, and whatever child they were blessed with is what they wanted.
Elizabeth is now 21 years old and has been fighting and beating the odds all of her life. She only spent ten days in the NICU, not the months that they had suggested. She had her first brain surgery at two days old to put in a shunt to help relieve the pressure on her brain due to excess fluid accumulation. To date, she has had 19 brain surgeries, most of them occurring before her 13th birthday.
The Touchberry’s would do anything for their daughter, and raising awareness and funds for hydrocephalus research is at the top of the list. Nothing is too crazy or off-limits! A jet-powered mini-van, sword swallowers, fire breathers, horse and buggy rides in downtown Sumter, SC, outdoor movies, and the list goes on and on.
They have done a lot of fundraisers over the years, but nothing has been quite as epic as what they have in store for November 2023! They are planning a coast-to-coast trip in one of their Ford Model T’s. No problem, it’s only 3000 miles! And in a 103-year-old Ford Model T! #Coast2Coast4Hydrocephalus
Photo Credit: Cal Cary/The Sumter Item
They will hit the road on November 17, 2023, leaving from the east coast in South Carolina and planning to cross the finish line on the west coast in California, all within 13 days. Hopefully, beating the current 14-day record. This will be an action-packed trip full of many experiences to share. And a fantastic way to raise awareness across the country for hydrocephalus.
Their goal is to raise at least $10/mile and donate funds to assist with critical research to help those living with the condition and eventually find a cure. All through Elizabeth’s Fluid Fighters.
Continue to follow the latest updates on the Touchberry’s Coast 2 Coast Tour at hydroassoc.org/coast-2-coast and help raise awareness and much-needed funding for research to help find a cure for hydrocephalus and to help those living with the condition. Make sure to continue to check back so you don’t miss a minute of the action, and please help us find a cure!