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Grace Hartman: Smiling growing and walking
The Hartman family loves spending summer days at their cabin, and two-year-old Grace especially loves the outdoors and her dog, Harper. Jake, an environmental consultant and Sarah, an 8th grade science teacher, enjoy every minute watching their daughter play. "Grace loves to throw sticks for Harper to run into the lake," says Sarah.
When Jake and Sarah were pregnant with Grace, a routine ultrasound revealed their unborn child's backbone was not closing properly, a condition known as spina bifida. That is when they heard about a new treatment for babies who often had better outcomes when they had surgery to repair spina bifida while still in the womb instead of the traditional method of having corrective surgery after birth. They flew to Philadelphia which is one of only three places in the country that performs this innovative fetal surgical procedure. When Sarah was only 23 weeks pregnant, she and Grace successfully underwent the revolutionary operation.
Grace was born on October 30, 2014. She was 10 days old when she came back home to Minnesota. "Before Grace was born, we were told things like she may not be able to walk and she may need a shunt in her brain to reduce fluid." The in utero surgery was extremely successful for Grace. "She is exceeding all expectations," says Sarah proudly. Grace can walk on her own a little ways, doesn't need a shunt and she is a very healthy and happy little girl. "She's doing amazing!"
At Courage Kenny Kids, Grace participates in physical therapy to help her with her walking and balance and to make sure she is on track to meet her growth milestones. Because her lesion was low on her back, she doesn't have the strength to push down on her feet which has made walking and balance challenging. But, according to her mom, it's a challenge Grace can overcome with the help of the therapists at Courage Kenny Kids. Sarah says, "Grace's favorite thing to do at Courage Kenny is go into the physical therapy gym where they have lots of fun equipment."
When the time is right, Jake and Sarah would love to see Grace participate in some of the many sports and activities of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute that encourages youth with disabilities to lead active and healthy lifestyles, like swimming. "Our goal for Grace is to make sure she realizes that she can be involved in as many things as she wants to be."
When Jake and Sarah were pregnant with Grace, a routine ultrasound revealed their unborn child's backbone was not closing properly, a condition known as spina bifida. That is when they heard about a new treatment for babies who often had better outcomes when they had surgery to repair spina bifida while still in the womb instead of the traditional method of having corrective surgery after birth. They flew to Philadelphia which is one of only three places in the country that performs this innovative fetal surgical procedure. When Sarah was only 23 weeks pregnant, she and Grace successfully underwent the revolutionary operation.
Grace was born on October 30, 2014. She was 10 days old when she came back home to Minnesota. "Before Grace was born, we were told things like she may not be able to walk and she may need a shunt in her brain to reduce fluid." The in utero surgery was extremely successful for Grace. "She is exceeding all expectations," says Sarah proudly. Grace can walk on her own a little ways, doesn't need a shunt and she is a very healthy and happy little girl. "She's doing amazing!"
At Courage Kenny Kids, Grace participates in physical therapy to help her with her walking and balance and to make sure she is on track to meet her growth milestones. Because her lesion was low on her back, she doesn't have the strength to push down on her feet which has made walking and balance challenging. But, according to her mom, it's a challenge Grace can overcome with the help of the therapists at Courage Kenny Kids. Sarah says, "Grace's favorite thing to do at Courage Kenny is go into the physical therapy gym where they have lots of fun equipment."
When the time is right, Jake and Sarah would love to see Grace participate in some of the many sports and activities of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute that encourages youth with disabilities to lead active and healthy lifestyles, like swimming. "Our goal for Grace is to make sure she realizes that she can be involved in as many things as she wants to be."