I am a very special kid, because I have spina bifida and I had surgery before I was even born! Doctors told me that I would be paralyzed and not have much of a life. I had 10 surgeries before I was 14 months old, and have had 19 all together, but I am doing very well.
My mom and I had surgery before I was even born in Nashville, Tennessee at Vanderbilt University when she was 23.5 weeks pregnant to close the spina bifida lesion in my back. We were surgery number 56! You can read all about this story on the pregnancy story link.

It is hard to explain what all I have been through, because there is so much medical stuff to learn, it's like learning a whole new language! But I will try to tell you in simple terms. =)

I have what is called "hydrocephalus" which is common with spina bifida. To control it, I have a shunt in the ventricles of my brain. A shunt is a little tube that drains the spinal fluid build up out of my head which could cause brain damage and/or an enlarged head. I am on my 8th shunt, the other ones stopped working or got infected, so I am hoping this is the last one I will need for awhile.
I also had bacterial meningitis/shunt infection when I was 3 weeks old. I was told I may not survive, would possibly be blind, deaf and would end up with moderate to severe brain damage. I guess I don't like listening to doctors and am infamous for beating the odds because here I am! =)
I am a very happy, laid back guy. I love people, and am VERY social. People often call me a "shameless flirt". I am not afraid of anyone and will make friends with people wherever I go.

I have a walker and am coming along very well. Slowly, but I will get there. I wear braces on my legs called RGO's (Reciprocating gate orthodics)to help me walk.
I was doing very well but had a few set backs with my tethered cord (where the scar tissue at the base of the spine wraps itself around the spinal cord which can cause nerve damage) and syrinx (fluid build up in the spinal cord which can also cause nerve damage due to pressure). and lost a bit of function. But with physical therapy, I am slowly walking again. It is pretty exciting, cause no one thought I would really be able to walk at all. I need to get alot stronger though, so I am working very hard.

I also have a wheelchair. Mom doesn't let me use it much. She says I need to use my walker for short distances, but I use it when we go places where it would be too tiring for me to walk in my walker. I get tired out easily walking unlike you, I will have another mobility option to give me some independence.

We were the ambassadors for the March of Dimes for two years. 2001 and 2002. It was a lot of fun. We got to educate people on folic acid and the importance of it before and during pregnancy. We also got to talk about the Fetal Surgery and the benefits we think it had on ME! :)

For the Walk America 2002, the March of Dimes put together a flyer about me. Mom put it up on our website so you could all see it. We thought it was pretty special. To see that page click HERE

In January 2004, my family took a trip thanks to Make A Wish Foundation ! Please check out the story and pictures by clicking HERE

Since our experience with Make A Wish Foundation, our family has done stuff with them.
They are such an awesome organization, and where I met my buddy Sandy!!

There will be updates kept on my site, so just follow the links below to get the newest updates on my progress. I hope you come back to visit me often. Please say lots of prayers for my continued health and progress!

Thank you for visiting my page.