Hubbard55: Where are you planning on going for the shunt surgery? If you are in Chicago, you are within driving distance to Tennessee. (I know Middle TN is 12 hours...so about 2.5 more to Knoxville). You can get the surgery and all necessary testing done there for around $1800, last time I checked. If you can, this is a GREAT option, they are the most reasonable AND the best when it comes to this procedure.
There should be lots of information about UT and Liver Shunts here as well as in the Yahoo Group:
Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support
Highly recommend you join this group, if you have not already.