A baby girl who underwent spinal surgery while she was still inside her mother’s womb because of spina bifida has exceeded doctors’ expectations by learning to walk.
Michael and Michelle Bower were advised to terminate their pregnancy when a 20-week scan revealed that their child has spina bifida.
But they ignored doctors’ advice and now, Lacey Grace Bower is already learning to walk.
“We met with the doctor right after the scan and heard the words ‘neural tube defect’, ‘lemon-shaped head’ and ‘spina bifida’ to describe our daughter for the first time,” Michelle from West Lafayette, Indiana, said.
“We were at a complete and total loss. The tears didn’t stop flowing for a couple of days.”
The 37-year-old mom found out that she was pregnant with Lacey after two years of trying.
“I took a test to determine whether or not I could have a few cocktails at the party,” she shared.
“Michael lifted me up in a hug and spun me around. We were beyond thrilled!”
But four months later, the couple received devastating news.
“They noticed Lacey had a lemon-shaped head which means that her spine lesion was pulling on her brainstem and making her head mis-shaped,” Michael said.
Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect that occurs when the spinal cord and spine do not form properly.
“We had just found out that we were having a girl the day before. We wanted a girl. We went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in under 24 hours,” Michelle said.
But the couple refused to lose their child so they opted for a surgery to fix the hole in Lacey’s spine while she was still in the womb.
“The rest of the pregnancy was riddled with fear and uncertainty. It was beyond difficult to just enjoy being pregnant,” Michelle expressed.
Lacey was born via c-section, weighing 6lbs 9oz.
“The first time I saw her was on a screen in the delivery room while they were giving her oxygen and getting her breathing started,” she continued.
“I saw that something was seriously wrong with her legs. Her knees were hyperextended to where her feet were up by her face. She was stiffened in a fixed position from her positioning in the womb.
“I was so sad for her and afraid.”
Lacey is partially paralyzed from the waist down but she managed to learn to sit, roll, and pull herself along the ground.
“She does more than that doctor ever imagined,” Michelle shared. “She is pulling to stand, and supported standing on her own now.
“She can climb up onto the couch and go to town on her rocking horse.”
The mother added: “The little things that others might somewhat take for granted are the things that dreams are made of for us – that is one of the many blessings that come with SB life
“Life with a disabled person is a life worth living.”
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!