Click the 'About' tab to learn more about Katelyn. Katelyn was born October 4, 2012 with Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele), an open neural tube defect in which the spine/spinal cord do not completely form and protrude through the spine and opening in the back, causing nerve damage below the defect location. Katelyn's myelomeningocele is at L4/L5-S1, which is low on the spine, but she does not have f
eeling in or move her legs as much as we expected. She is quite the fighter, so we are hoping this improves as she grows. She also has other common conditions associated with Spina Bifida - Hydrocephalus, Chiari Malformation, Neurogenic bladder/bowel, club feet, inguinal hernia, hip dysplasia, and tracheomalacia. She had spinal surgery at 1 day old to close up the opening in her back. She had a second surgery at 1 week old to place a VP shunt in her brain to drain excess cerebral spinal fluid from her ventricles. She was also a preemie and has recently had breathing problems which are not yet diagnosed. She has spent 70 days of her first 6 months of life in the Nationwide Children's Hospital and has had 4 surgeries.
