Sophie and Noah Banks are expecting another little girl…Marigold! During the anatomy scan they found out she has spina bifida myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. This means as her spine was forming, her back did not close properly and her spinal nerves are outside of her body and being damaged by amniotic fluid, which they learned has also caused both of her feet to be clubbed. As of now her brain looks “normal” with little to no fluid seen in there…typically this isn’t the case. Right now (11/10/25) they are waiting to find out if they qualify for fetoscopic surgery to prevent more damage being done to her & repair her back. Surgery will require Sophie to stay months in Houston before birth & afterwards for NICU care. If she doesn’t get the surgery, Sophie will have to deliver either in Houston or Little Rock to have neurosurgeons & other specialized doctors near, which will also include a 4-6week stay before birth & NICU stay afterwards.

How can you help? The number one way is PRAYER! Below are specific prayer requests from Sophie. Please also consider making a donation to help relieve a little bit of the financial burden that the medical expenses and traveling will place on the family.

From Sophie:

We know God has great plans for Marigold and our family and we feel such a peace knowing God created our family and this new news didn't surprise him. We are confident that she will thrive no matter what her situations may look likeWe believe God is our healer and provider & we would appreciate specific prayer for the following:

1. That fluid would continue to stay out of her brain & that she won't need a shunt once she's born

2. Once born, she will have function of her bowel & bladder and won't need a catheter

3. The surgery requires that I have someone with me in Houston...however, owning our own small business prevents Noah from being able to stay with me for an extended time. We are needing to find someone (or multiple people to trade-off) to stay with me in Houston....SO much to ask, but if we need the surgery, we have to have this or I can't get it

4. For Wyler & Bronwyn if our family has to be separated for a bit through the surgery/healing/monitoring/birth....this is one of the hardest parts for me & I need prayer that God will calm & comfort my mom heart from possibly being apart from them. That they will be comforted by God & have an understanding that mom still loves them even though I can't be with them

5. For Noah & me as we have many plans, finances, logistics to walk through and figure out