Everything seemed to be fine until 14 weeks into the pregnancy, when she began suffering severe cramping. An ultrasound scan revealed that the baby boy was suffering from spina bifida. Their reaction was understandable, since spina bifida, our country's most common permanently disabling defect, can be devastating to a child. The cord can be damaged as the baby kicks and rolls in the womb. It occurs in about one of every 1,000 births.
Many mothers choose to abort their babies once spina bifida is confirmed.
But for Mr. and Mrs. Armas, a deeply religious couple, abortion was never an option, even though their baby had the worst type of the infirmity. Fortunately, the lesion was low on his backbone, which reduced the chance of nerve damage. With help from family members, the parents began surfing the Internet to find out more about the disorder. The Armas' Atlanta neurosurgeon, Dr. Andrew Reisner, arranged for them to meet with Dr. Joseph P. Bruner, director of Vanderbilt's fetal diagnosis and therapy program. After a great deal of prayer, and thorough evaluation of the formidable risks involved, the Armas' opted for the surgery, hoping to make a bad situation better for their child.