Spina bifida is a birth defect that prevents the spinal cord from properly forming, and Roman, the boy, also had extra fluid in his brain, or hydrocephalus.
“When he gets a headache or something, we have to take that seriously. We can’t just be like ‘Oh, you’re fine,’” Whitney Dinkel, his mother, told CBS News on April 10, adding that the boy is walking and even running.
“As parents we have to continue to check the boxes and be like ‘Is this a normal kid thing? Or is this a hydrocephalus thing? Or is this a spina bifida thing,’” Adam Dinkel, his father, added.
His parents noted that Roman won’t be fully “out of the woods” due to his spina bifida.
“You just kind of learn to live in the woods,” his mother told CBS.
“He just shows what love should look like. For any human being, this is what the world should look like,” Adam said of the boy.
Adam noted that a number of unborn babies who have spina bifida are aborted.
“We want to show parents, this is an amazing life.”
“When the neural tube doesn’t close all the way, the backbone that protects the spinal cord doesn’t form and close as it should. This often results in damage to the spinal cord and nerves,” the agency says.
The condition can cause both physical and intellectual from mild to serious.
The CDC recommends that pregnant mothers take folic acid each day to prevent the condition from occurring.
“Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements you are taking,” says the agency, adding: “If you have a medical condition―such as diabetes or obesity―be sure it is under control before you become pregnant.”
It also recommends not to overheat in a hot tub or sauna, or something similar.
“Spina bifida can range from mild to severe. Some people may have little to no disability. Other people may be limited in the way they move or function. Some people may even be paralyzed or unable to walk or move parts of their body,” it also says.
