When Anya was still in her mother's womb, the doctors at the ultrasound scan saw a huge hernia on the back of the unborn girl - spina bifida - and told her mother, "She will be physically and mentally severely disabled." And the mom started looking for information on the Internet and found our foundation. We quickly arranged an examination for mom. There were all indications for intrauterine surgery. The surgery was done and the hernia was removed. Anya was born at the due date.
The surgery done in utero gave a lot to Anna: hydrocephalus compensated and no shunt, urology is intact and kidneys are normal, intestines work fine too. Anya is regularly examined by doctors and this is confirmed. She still has mobility in her legs. She could walk.
Now the girl is three years old. She is very open and sociable - loves people and children. She walks, runs, jumps, dances, loves scooter and swings. She can't do anything without movement, she is very active and grows up fast. Her favorite things in kindergarten are exercises, physical training, dancing and walking. Doctor's predictions that she will be "physically and mentally handicapped", thank God, have not come true!
But all the consequences of the diagnosis - spina bifida - could not be avoided. During a regular check-up the orthopedist said that her feet were not developing correctly - because of the damaged innervation Anya was not walking correctly, and gradually the joints of her feet were shifting and becoming deformed. In order to keep the ability to walk independently, you need orthotics. These are special plastic boots that are made from an impression of Anja's feet. Orthotics will help to fix the leg correctly, but at the same time do not limit its movement, and it will help to avoid further deformation of the joint.
The girl does not yet have the opportunity to get orthotics under IPRA. The family is now working with a lawyer from our foundation on the paperwork to obtain a disability. But this will take many months, and the orthoses are needed today. It is not possible for a family with many children to find such a huge amount of money to pay for orthoses.
This is why the charity fund "Spina Bifida" is collecting funds to buy orthoses for Anja. Let's help little Anya to keep walking!
Verified by Tooba
