Talia Zougaib contracted a brain infection before she was even born. Doctors suspect her mum became infected with listeria bacteria after eating watermelon.

The listeria caused meningitis and from there Talia developed fluid on the brain. She’s had several operations to put shunts in to drain the fluid from her brain, and more operations to take the shunts out when they’ve become blocked or infected.

Talia is just 12 months old and has already had 12 brain operations.

It’s been a tough road for the family. There have been many moments of anxiety, and there’s hope the latest operation will be the last for a while.

Photo courtesy of the Herald Sun