Hello! My name is Axel Hirsch and I just turned 1.  My crazy journey started while my mom was still pregnant with me. Her and my daddy found out I had Spina Bifida and they were going to need to do my 1st surgery while I was in the womb. When I was born not only did I have spina bifida but I also have no feeling from my knees down, was club footed, and had a neurogenic bladder.

When I was 6 month old I had foot surgery to try and help correct my club feet. I have been wearing casts (that have to be replaced EVERY week) and sometimes braces to help my legs and feet. I do tons of therapy (PT and OT) to help me learn how to move, roll over, learn to crawl, and hopefully walk someday.
Just 3 days after my 1st birthday I had to have surgery again. Chiari II malformation was present and they needed to repair it. When the Dr went in they had never seen anything like this before so they went a different route but the surgery was considered incomplete. I had tons of pressure built up and fluid on my brain. They were able to drain the fluid and release the pressure, but Dr.s are unsure how long this will work. I will have another MRI done in 2 months to see how things are going.

I am having a rough time recovering from this surgery. My mommy and daddy noticed all the work we have done on my foot has turned completely back. I am in tons of pain, I don’t want to lay on the back of my head, I don’t want to move anything but my arms because everything hurts. I wake up in the middle of the night screaming for hours and my mommy and daddy try to sooth me.

I will have to have another foot surgery, once I recover from this surgery. I will continue to have Doctors appointments and therapy multiple times a week. My daddy is in the Military and is doing everything he can to take time off to help my mommy take care of my brother and I. 

Anything helps! 

Thank You!!!

Love,
Sweet Baby Axel ❤️