~ 6 minute read ~ This sacrococcygeal teratoma article appeared in the spring 2024 edition of Connexions, a magazine for the Fetal Health Community Rural Colorado couple Lyndsy and her husband, Aaron, found out they were expecting their third child, Ella, in November...
Michelle Somers
Fetoscopic MMC (Spina Bifida) Repair: One Family’s Journey
When Katarina’s unborn baby was diagnosed with myelomeningocele (MMC), “It was kind of a shock, but my doctor said the best bet was fetal surgery. He referred me to Colorado right away, and he said we needed to do it as soon as possible,” she says. “That just kind of threw me for a whirlwind, and I have other kids to take care of too. It was a lot to process.”
How a Cystic Fibrosis Drug Given Prenatally Changed the Lives of One Family
Foundation supporters at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health gave us permission to share this story of hope for prenatal help for cystic fibrosis.
Considering Fetal Surgery or a Fetal Care Center? What to Keep in Mind
Fetal Health Foundation Medical Advisory Board member Dr. Timothy Crombleholme, MD, who leads the Fetal Care Center at Connecticut Children’s, shares six important details to consider when your baby needs fetal intervention not just to survive, but to thrive.
TTTS Triplet Parents Reflect on their Daughters’ Surgery and Birth
Performing surgery on triplets is more complex than on twins. In Tiffini’s case, there were two placentas: Hannah had one placenta all to herself, while Sophia and Isabella were sharing the other placenta, albeit unequally. Sophia and Isabella were affected by TTTS when the volume of blood flow across the connecting blood vessels between them became uneven, with Isabella getting too much and Sophia getting too little.
Newborn Survives Fatal Kidney Diagnosis (Bilateral Renal Agenesis) with Help from Stanford Children’s Medicine
Ten years ago, Abigail Beutler was born without kidneys, a condition called bilateral renal agenesis. Against all odds, she’s alive today to play with her Breyer horses, read her favorite Paul Revere adventure book, and challenge her brother in archery. The family was...
Preschooler Thriving Three Years After Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida
When faced with a severe form of spina bifida, Iliana underwent cutting-edge in-utero surgery at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. Today she is thriving thanks to her mother’s courageous decision.
“I had the chance to give my baby a better opportunity in life, and I took it.”
A multispecialty Stanford Children’s care team treats baby with rare genetic condition
Alyssa was five months along and an ultrasound revealed that their baby, Nya, had a heart condition, ductus arteriosus.
Alyssa was told that her daughter might need surgery immediately after being born.
Cecelia: Expert Care for Fetal Heart Block Before and After Birth
When Brittany and Nicholas’ unborn baby, Cecelia, was diagnosed with fetal heart block at 24 weeks gestation, their lives changed immediately — in the most literal sense of the word. They lived in Montana and when their doctor first suspected the heart issue, he told...
Charlotte: Surviving a Fetal Omphalocele and Finding Silver Linings
When Charlotte first received an omphalocele diagnosis, her parents didn’t know it’s severity. After one of the longest months of their lives, they got some good news. Maternal fetal medicine specialists at the Colorado Fetal Care Center diagnosed Charlotte with an isolated omphalocele, meaning a small part of her intestine was growing outside her abdomen but it wasn’t affecting other organs.
Fetal Care Chat: Women in Fetal Medicine
Fetal Health Foundation founder and Fetal Care Chat host, Lonnie Somers welcomes three amazing pioneering women in fetal medicine. Dr. Jenan Miller, Dr. Courtney Stephenson, and Dr. Diana Farmer.
Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida: Jaxyn’s Story
Fetal surgery for spina bifida is improving outcomes. The fetal surgeons at Cincinnati Children's Fetal Care Center, who have extensive experience and innovative intervention therapies to help treat spina bifida in utero, recently shared this story of hope with the...










