Hello Friends and Family! 

In early September we found out Baby Smith had Spina Bifida at our 20 week ultrasound. This was devastating news to us as we were so consciously working towards a healthy pregnancy. Since then we have met with what seems to be every maternal fetal medicine specialist at Mayo in Rochester. The route they suggested to give Baby Smith the best odds was to perform fetal surgery to close up the lesion on the baby's back. On October 10th, at 25 weeks and 5 days gestation, a team of 20+ specialists and surgeons operated on Alyssa and Baby Smith through an incision in the uterus to close up the open lesion.  Simply amazing. The surgery went well and the recovery process commenced. Baby Smith's official diagnosis from the neurosurgeon was a form of Myelomeningocele (Myeloschisis), Chiari Malformation, and Hydrocephalus. 

Alyssa will remain on bed rest in Rochester until Baby Smith arrives, hopefully late December at 37 weeks. 

Spina bifida affects each individual differently so we await many answers. We do not know the extent of the nerve damage or if the surgery will help reverse the brain malformation, but we remain hopeful. The road ahead will be long and trying, with many obstacles but the Lord only gives us what we can handle. 

We would be grateful to accept prayers for support and monetary donations to offset some of the costs and relieve some of the burden.  

                Thank You from the Smiths! 
               Josh, Alyssa, and Baby Smith


Also, the Ronald McDonald House has been a wonderful blessing to us. We would urge you to contribute to this organization in the future.