Speaker: Steffanie Angell "Loving Bella, Firstborn with Spina Bifida"
Posted by Jeff Benson
on Sep 23, 2014
Steffanie (third from left) with Margaret, Mom (Lori) and Aunt (MaryAnn)
Steffanie Angell is the mother of Bella, an eight year old girl who has Spina Bifida. Steffanie describes Bella as a "miracle' child, and with good reason. At 23 weeks into Steffanie's pregnancy, a scan revealed that her unborn child had myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida, which occurs when the spinal cord is exposed through an opening in the lower spine, resulting in partial or complete paralysis of the parts of the body below the spinal opening. Because severe brain damage usually accompanies this level of spinal deformity, her doctors recommended that she terminate the pregnancy. Steffanie, and husband Jed, decided against termination and Bella was delivered by C-section. Bella's spinal deformity was more severe than anticipated, but her brain injury was less severe than expected, and surgeries to repair her spine and place shunts to relieve the fluid pressure on her brain were very successsful. The demands of caring for Bella made it necessary for Steffanie to quit her job, and the medical bills mounted quickly and are finally under control after eight years. Steffanie and Jed's patience and focus on Bella's abilities, rather than her disabilities, has resulted in a beautiful, vibrant and capable daughter...a miracle indeed! (see Bella's photo below)
