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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
Three babies have been born after receiving the world’s first spina bifida treatment combining surgery with stem cells. This was made possible by a landmark clinical trial at UC Davis Health.
The new treatment, delivered while a fetus is still in the mother’s womb, could improve outcomes for children with this birth defect.