October offers us a time to come together to raise awareness of the Spina Bifida community and our clients living with this condition.
Spina Bifida is a condition that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. It’s a type of neural tube defect (NTD) that occurs when a baby’s neural tube fails to develop or close properly – the literal meaning for Spina Bifida is “split spine.” Commonly referred to as the “snowflake condition” of birth defects because no two cases are the same, Spina Bifida can range from mild to severe, and can happen anywhere along the spine. The severity depends on everything from the size of the opening to the location on the spine.
In 2019, when she was just 7 years old, HBF was introduced to Sophia B. Sophia was born with Spina Bifida, and hydrocephalus. She had been receiving physical therapy since she was 2 months old. At 2 ½ years old, Sophia started walking “independently”. Her parents explained, “She has balance and physical coordination issues due to her lack of sensation in some parts of her lower extremities and the rotation of her right foot. She needs help going up and down stairs and to transition within different floor surfaces to move independently around the house.”
With help from our friends at Builders First Source, HBF was able to install interior and exterior handrails. The handrails made an immediate impact in helping Sophia gain independence and the ability to move around the house. She now experiences less chance of falling and offers security to her parents.
Please join us this month as we spread awareness of Spina Bifida and celebrate Sophia B. And be sure to watch our blog as we celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October!