The Wade–Dahl–Till Valve: How Roald Dahl Helped Redesign Brain Surgery
Dr. Kumar’s Take
In 1960, Roald Dahl’s 4-month-old son Theo suffered a devastating head injury in New York City. The resulting hydrocephalus led to repeated shunt failures - sometimes just days apart. Frustrated with existing valve technology, Dahl decided to do something extraordinary: partner with Britain’s first pediatric neurosurgeon, Kenneth Till, and retired toymaker Stanley Wade to create a better solution.
The result was the Wade–Dahl–Till (WDT) valve, a stainless steel, low-pressure, easily sterilized shunt that helped thousands of children worldwide. It was affordable, designed with global accessibility in mind, and stood as a testament to what can happen when curiosity meets determination.