When Andres and Kaylee Rivas of Lago Vista, Texas, learned during a routine ultrasound that their unborn daughter had spina bifida — a neural tube defect in which the spine does not close completely during early fetal development — they sought answers and hope at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Doctors couldn’t get a good measurement on the baby’s head, raising concerns that spina bifida could be the cause, and another test confirmed the diagnosis.
Spina bifida can lead to loss of feeling, leg paralysis, and other challenges, including hydrocephalus, where fluid buildup causes the head to swell.
Kaylee Rivas’ doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital Austin developed a plan to repair the baby’s spine while she was still in the womb.
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Specialists performed a complex maternal-fetal surgery, described by Dr. Cara Buskmiller, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, as surgery on both patients.
“This procedure is definitely maternal-fetal surgery,” Buskmiller said. “It’s surgery on both patients. The mom undergoes significant surgery to allow her uterus to be ready for us to put some port sites in it.”
Once the mother’s uterus was accessed, a neurosurgeon covered the opening in the baby’s spinal cord, closing the defect to create a secure seal. The operation went well.
The baby, named Josie Elena Rivas, was born after the prenatal repair.
She spent 109 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at Texas Children’s Hospital-Austin, with her parents by her side every single day.
Today, Josie is home and thriving. She is moving her legs — an encouraging sign of progress — and showing other positive developments as she continues care through the Spina Bifida Clinic at Texas Children’s – Austin.
The clinic brings together specialists across multiple areas, providing comprehensive, collaborative treatment in one place so families can focus more on their child’s future rather than navigating multiple appointments.
“There have obviously been so many hard moments along the way,” Andres shared. “But just like everything in life, it passes—and the good times are finally here.”
The Rivas family’s experience underscores the life-affirming impact of timely prenatal intervention for spina bifida, offering families hope through advanced fetal surgery and ongoing specialized support. Josie’s journey highlights the compassionate, expert care available at Texas Children’s Hospital for such diagnoses.
