Hello everyone, this is my eldest daughter, Megan, and her family. Megan is currently 32 weeks pregnant and carrying a boy. Her family found out at 28 weeks that their son, Abram, has the most severe form of Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele). This means some of the spinal nerves and fluid slipped between the developing vertebrae and created a sac on his back. This took place around 8 weeks and was caused by a combination of genetics, folate deficiency, and “environmental factors.” Research reveals only so much about this condition, so there’s no way to know exactly what causes each case.

Spina bifida can lead to mobility issues, continence issues, cognitive issues, and fluid on the brain. All of these issues will be monitored and determined with time; there isn’t any way to know at birth, or before, how severely the spina bifida will affect a baby. Surgery doesn’t determine the outcome of the impairments either. A combination of what nerves are or aren’t damaged, how surgery goes, and how well the baby heals after surgery, paired with time, will determine the baby’s future abilities, delays, or impairments.

In Abram’s case, doctors and parents are hopeful for a positive outcome. According to Megan, he is very active in the womb, more so than his older sister was when she was pregnant with her. According to an in-depth sonogram and a fetal MRI, Abram’s leg growth and absence of clubfeet are also good indications he may have the use of his legs in some capacity. The sac on Abram's back sits at L5 to S3 (his lower back), which is also good. The lower the sac is on the back, the more likely for a positive and healthier outcome. Time will ultimately tell.

Since the initial diagnosis at the beginning of November 2025, they have met with a doctor who does specialty sonograms, a neurosurgeon, and the birthing team. The neurosurgeon will restructure and tuck the spinal nerves back into Abram’s back and will work with a plastic surgeon to cosmetically help close the wound. The birthing team assigned to Megan and Abram has delivered and cared for many babies with spina bifida. Megan will be making weekly trips from their home in Mansfield up to North Dallas, leading up to deliver, to see her OB doctor, as well as trips into Arlington to continue monitoring Abram via sonogram.

Due to the rarity of this specific type of spina bifida, Megan is scheduled for a C-section on January 14th, 2026, to deliver Abram in Dallas. Abram will immediately receive antibiotics in preparation for his surgery and will be taken to the NICU shortly after. Megan will have a 2-hour recovery, then she and Daniel will be able to see him in the NICU. Because of the sac/wound on his back, there will be limitations for holding and nursing him before and after his surgery. Abram is scheduled to have surgery the following day (January 15th). He will be put under anesthesia for the surgery and will be returned to the NICU once complete. The minimal time he will be in the NICU will be 2 weeks. The total length of admission for him will depend on how his wound heals and what “checkpoints” he meets to be safely discharged home to family.

During his time of admittance, Megan will be making the drive every day to see Abram and keep him supplied with breastmilk, formula, and lots of hugs as able. Daniel will make the trips as he’s able, as he has limited vacation and sick leave, having just started a new job in August. Overall, this will be a challenging time for their family, as they balance life between home, raising a toddler, the hospital, and work. Daniel and Megan will be heavily leaning on grandparents and close church family members to help balance everything. They are grateful for those who are willing to support them through prayer, meals, babysitting, financial giving, and general love and care. It takes a solid, loving group of people to see a family through a time like this.