Aleea: Myelomeningocele Warrior

When you meet Aleea today, you’ll see a happy kid running, jumping and playing like other kids her age. She’s energetic, sweet, strong-willed and a proud big sister. Aleea can pursue whatever she wants, and that’s what makes her story so remarkable. For Aleea and her family, “healthy” was never promised.

Facing myelomeningocele before birth 

Before she was even born, Aleea was diagnosed with myelomeningocele (MMC) — a severe form of spina bifida. It’s a condition where part of the spinal cord and nerves develop outside the body, and it can lead to lifelong challenges, such as the inability to walk, developmental delays and altered leg and foot development.

Her parents, Maria and Korey, were overwhelmed by the diagnosis. They worried about their unborn daughter’s health and how this might affect their whole family. Living in a small Nebraska town, they weren’t sure their local hospital could provide the specialized care Aleea would need.

Fetal surgery provides the best of both worlds

Both Maria and Korey ran their own businesses and were raising an older daughter, so potentially relocating for extended care was daunting. Thankfully, Maria’s care team referred her to the Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado. This is one of the few centers offering in-utero surgery for MMC — a highly specialized procedure that can improve outcomes after birth.

Maria traveled to Colorado for the surgery, which was successful thanks to our experts. We are the only center in the region to offer both open MMC repair and fetoscopic MMC repair based on the unique situation of each patient and family.

Since 2012, Children’s Colorado has performed more than 135 MMC surgeries, with 66% of patients able to return home for delivery. Maria was among them — heading back home to continue her pregnancy after the fetal surgery. She delivered Aleea at 32 weeks in Omaha, surrounded by family and familiar support.

A vibrant life that once felt out of reach

A common complication with MMC is the need for a shunt, which helps drain excess fluid from the brain. While shunts can be lifesaving, they can also lead to infections or future surgeries. One major benefit of fetal surgery is potentially avoiding a shunt — and that was true for Aleea.

Now, aside from occasional check-ins with our neurosurgery team and some physical therapy, Aleea is a completely healthy kid. She has come so far since her initial diagnosis. Thanks to advanced care before birth, she now gets the chance to grow and follow her dreams. It’s hard to imagine becoming a warrior before taking your first breaths, but that’s exactly what Aleea did.