Spina Bifida Patient Stories

Diagnosed before birth with the most severe form of spina bifida, Kaitlyn underwent surgery while she was still in the womb. Now 5, she is happy and healthy.

Elliana and her mom, Nicole, traveled from Michigan to Philadelphia to have fetal surgery for myelomeningocele, the most serious form of spina bifida.

Luelle underwent fetal surgery to treat myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. Her journey was documented in the PBS series TWICE BORN.

A spina bifida diagnosis led Baylee and Louis to make the trip from their home in Florida to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for fetal surgery.

The Watkins family traveled from Florida to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia so that their unborn baby girl, Scout, could have fetal surgery for spina bifida.

Six years after prenatal repair of spina bifida, Will walks, runs and jumps, and continues to amaze his parents with all he can do.

Jayant’s family traveled from Florida to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to seek the most experienced team for prenatal repair of spina bifida.

Kerri tells her story about delivering baby Jarrett in the Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit at CHOP, after he was diagnosed in utero with spina bifida.

After learning her unborn daughter, Avery, had spina bifida, Katie traveled from Maryland to have prenatal surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

When Alicia and Matthew learned their unborn baby had spina bifida, the prognosis was grim. But the team at CHOP offered them hope through fetal surgery.