One question that always gets asked at the Conference or other SBAA gatherings is “What can I do?” In a word, awareness. Awareness of the effects of spina bifida and awareness of the necessity of folic acid supplementation.
Congratulations to Ashley Kersh-Fletcher who was 19 when she found out she was pregnant with her first child Nick – who was diagnosed in the womb with spina bifida. Ashley is actively involved in her local spina bifida association and works tirelessly to bring awareness of spina bifida to her local Indiana community.
Ashely persuaded the Kokomo Tribune to run a story about living with spina bifida and the impact of folic acid.
"After the surgery, I was told Nick had spina bifida and he would never be able to walk or do a lot of other things," Kersh-Fletcher said. "I had no idea what spina bifida was, but I thought, 'How do they know what my son will or will not be able to do?'"
"Everything that has been done, has kept him walking," she said. "I've always encouraged him to try new things," she said. "I don't hold him back. He's had some broken bones, but he's been all right."