Houston Chronicle by Lindsay Peyton 7/27/2021
Houston doctor's first-of-its-kind surgery gives 6-year-old with spina bifida a 'remarkable life'
Though there is no cure for spina bifida, the treatment Grayson received in utero is responsible for his remarkable quality of life.
He can walk unassisted and enjoys being outdoors. He never had the common side effect of hydrocephalus — extra fluid on the brain that can result in neurological problems.
Grayson was the first child in the U.S. to undergo a novel in-utero procedure to treat spina bifida, developed by surgeons at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women.
Thanks to his success — and his mother, Althea’s, courage to try this new approach in 2014 — 100 other babies have since followed in his footsteps.
Texas Children’s Drs. Michael Belfort and William Whitehead had worked for years to pioneer a new fetoscopic procedure to repair spina bifida.
The doctors were convinced that a minimally invasive approach would revolutionize the care of both mother and baby.
More:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/renew-houston/health/article/Houston-doctor-s-first-of-its-kind-surgery-gives-16343409.php
