Family get tattoos of charity logo after life saving surgery
Harry's HAT is a small charity specialising in Hydrocephalus
Last updated 22nd Jun 2026
Two Canterbury parents are raising awareness for Harry's HAT charity - and have even gotten tattoos - after the organisation saved their daughter's life.
Amy and Kieran Peek are parents to four children, including baby Millie-Mae, who started to display concerning symptoms at the age of six months old.
A desperate search for answers led them to the website of Harry’s Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust and, within hours, the baby girl was undergoing life-saving emergency surgery to treat a dangerous build-up of fluid on her brain.
The couple, along with Millie-Mae’s maternal grandparents, have all had permanent tattoos of the charity’s bobble hat logo as a tribute, raising awareness of the condition.
Hydrocephalus explained
Harry’s Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust (Harry’s HAT) supports children with paediatric hydrocephalus, sometimes referred to as ‘water on the brain’.
The condition occurs when there is an abnormal build-up of fluid inside the brain. Which then puts a harmful pressure on brain tissue. If untreated it can lead to brain damage, physical impairment, and cognitive issues.
Symptoms included extreme lethargy and eyes crossing and uncrossing.
A gradual decline that turned into a medical emergency
When Amy and Kieran decided to have their fourth child, they expected the experience to be straightforward.
Although Millie had some early health concerns, she was allowed home and initially seemed to be developing normally.
She missed some early milestones including rolling and sitting up, but it wasn’t until she was six months old that more concerning symptoms began to appear.
“We noticed that her eyes kept crossing and uncrossing,” Amy said.
“It was repeated. It could be 20 times within one minute. She was very lethargic and sleepy, and she had no energy.
"Where she would normally smile, laugh or babble - there was none of that no more. She'd sit there quietly for hours and was more or less unresponsive to everything.
“The scary part was that it didn't just happen overnight. It was slowly, and she was gradually going downhill, so we didn't see it.”
Harry’s HAT’s website
One afternoon, the couple turned to Google in an attempt to understand what was happening. During their search, they came across a list of symptoms on the Harry’s Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust website.
Kieran explained: “Amy found the website, told me what the symptoms were, and we both sat down and went through it. After that, we knew we needed to get her down to the GP ASAP.”
The couple told doctors they suspected hydrocephalus - a condition caused by a build-up of fluid on the brain. Their concerns were initially dismissed, but their persistence ensured Millie received a CT scan, which confirmed the diagnosis.
“If it wasn't for coming across the information on Harry’s HAT’s website,” Amy said. “If we’d have left it a further two to three hours, we were told she could have suffered severe brain damage or even worse.”
“The information just opened our eyes… especially as it's a condition that we've never heard of.”
Millie’s treatment journey was complex and traumatic. Her initial procedure failed, and she developed a serious infection, requiring a prolonged hospital stay and intensive treatment.
Despite these challenges, Millie survived and is now continuing her recovery under close medical supervision.
Kieran added:
"She's got a lot of people involved to try to keep an eye on her, but the constant worry is she's got no hardware in her head to help regulate this fluid.
"So now we're constantly on our toes. Whether it's day, night, a good day, a bad day, whether she's healthy, unhealthy, whether she's ill, it doesn't matter."
They added that Harry's HAT still regularly check in with them to offer support, providing a lifeline despite the uncertainty of a future with Hydrocephalus.
Their experience is a powerful reminder that small charities can have a life-changing—and life-saving—impact by providing information, empowering families, and helping children like Millie-Mae get the urgent care they need.
Harry's HAT Tattoos
Determined to give something back, Amy and Kieran – joined by Millie’s maternal grandparents - made a deeply personal commitment to the charity by getting permanent tattoos of Harry’s HAT’s bobble hat logo.
“We wanted to do something to help make people aware,” Kieran said:
“We felt like we owed Harry’s HAT some form of recognition. I've lost count of how many times I've been asked questions about what the tattoo means, and then we explain what it is, and about hydrocephalus.”
"Even just doing the school runs, you'll just sat there and minding your own business, waiting for them to let your child out and you'll have a parent come over. That's a really fun tattoo. Can you explain why you got that specifically?"
Amy added:
"Even the tattoo artist asked him, what was, what is the hat? You know, because he knows the autism puzzle. He's like, what's this about?
"It's quite shocking, people say it's common, but then you ask them what it is."
Amy's father is a lorry driver across Kent, Sussex and Essex, and also frequently explains the meaning of the tattoo to those he runs into. The tattoos have become a powerful way of raising awareness, sparking conversations wherever they go.