Fetal Syndrome Awareness Month highlights the conditions that can affect a baby before birth and the importance of education, specialized fetal care, and support for families navigating a prenatal diagnosis.
What Is a Fetal Syndrome?
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Spina Bifida
OHSU Re-Engages With FHF to Support Expansion of Advanced Fetal Care
The OHSU fetal care program has re-engaged with the Fetal Health Foundation to expand access to advanced fetal care for families facing complex fetal diagnoses, strengthening support for patients across the region.
Q&A with Dr. Jena Miller: Charting New Frontiers in Fetal Medicine at CHOP
In January 2026, Dr. Jena Miller joined CHOP as Co-Director of the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment. With over a decade at Johns Hopkins, she brings expertise in minimally invasive fetal procedures, spina bifida, and TTTS. Read her Q&A on advancing fetal medicine and supporting families.
Rose’s Story: Prenatal Spina Bifida Diagnosis
When Taylor and James learned their baby, Rose, had spina bifida, their world shifted overnight. From high-risk pregnancy care to in-utero surgery at Children’s Mercy, their story of hope, resilience, and the power of compassionate medical support unfolded.
UC Davis Surgeon Dr. Diana Farmer Honored for Groundbreaking Spina Bifida Research
Dr. Diana Farmer of UC Davis is pioneering new spina bifida treatments by combining fetal surgery with stem cell therapy in the groundbreaking CuRe Trial. Her work is transforming patient care and offering hope.
Thaddeus’s Story: Beyond Open Fetal Surgery, A Spina Bifida Success
5-minute read
Ester and Samuel traveled across country and stayed away from home for months to ensure the health of their baby boy. His serious spina bifida diagnosis and mom’s cervical complications were challenges that Dr. Timothy Crombleholme accepted and triumphed over.
Nixon: Making remarkable strides in his development thanks to the world’s first study of its kind for spina bifida
The landmark clinical trial CuRe Trial: Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele is underway at UC Davis Health. The world’s first spina bifida treatment combining fetal surgery with stem cells could change the life of a baby with spina bifida, who could otherwise be paralyzed from the waist down.
Christian: Now an EMT decades after groundbreaking spina bifida surgery
Christian was the 14th patient to undergo fetal surgery for myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is now a tall, handsome 24-year-old who recently passed his national certification to become an emergency medical technician (EMT).
Lexi’s story: surpassing all expectations after in-utero surgery for spina bifida
5-minute read
The Badenhop family wasn’t expecting news of spina bifida and were scared and uncertain about their baby’s future. But Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s expert team offered hope — and a successful outcome for baby Lexi.
The impact of fetal surgery for spina bifida and hydrocephalus: a patient’s perspective
5-minute read
A young mom is faced with life or death decisions soon after learning her son’s diagnosis of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. She tells us her heartwarming story.
UC Davis CuRe trial awarded $15 million to support clinical trial testing stem cell treatment for spina bifida
4-minute read
Researchers at UC Davis Health are continuing to Phase 2 of a clinical trial for in utero surgery that uses stem cells to repair spina bifida defect, offering potential better outcomes.
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.”