DOCTORS OPERATED BEFORE HE WAS BORN — NOW BABY CAMERON IS REACHING MILESTONES HIS FAMILY ONCE FEARED HE MIGHT MISS

A Diagnosis That Changed the Family’s Plans

When Rebecca and Lavelle Johnson learned that their unborn baby had myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida, they faced a future filled with difficult questions.

Spina bifida occurs when the spine and spinal canal do not close completely during early development. In myelomeningocele, the spinal cord and its surrounding structures can protrude through an opening in the back, potentially leading to serious complications.

For the Johnson family, the news was especially painful because they had previously lost their first child as an infant due to a congenital heart defect. This time, they were determined to explore every option that might give their baby the best possible start in life.

A Remarkable Operation Before Birth

After receiving a recommendation from Rebecca’s maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Georgia, the family traveled to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where doctors offered a minimally invasive fetal surgery to repair the spinal defect.

The procedure took place when Rebecca was 25 weeks pregnant. Instead of waiting until after delivery, the surgical team repaired the defect while Cameron was still in the womb.

The operation used a fetoscope inserted through small ports in the uterus. This approach was designed to repair the myelomeningocele while limiting the size of the incision made in the mother’s skin.

It was a complex procedure, but it offered the family an opportunity to reduce some of the risks associated with the condition before Cameron was born.

Arriving Early, With a Chance to Thrive

Rebecca delivered Cameron at 32 weeks of pregnancy. Like many babies born prematurely, he needed care in the neonatal intensive care unit before he could go home.

His parents stayed close to him through those early weeks, waiting to see how he would respond after the fetal operation and his premature birth.

Before discharge, Cameron was already showing encouraging signs. His mother noticed him kicking his little legs, and she was pleased with how well the surgical site on his back had healed.

“His back looks amazing,” Rebecca said, describing the small scar and how well it had healed.

What the Surgery Could Mean for Cameron’s Future

The repair offered Cameron important potential benefits, although it could not guarantee a particular outcome. Rebecca said the surgery gave him a 50 percent chance of walking without assistance and reduced the risk of needing a shunt to manage a buildup of fluid.

Myelomeningocele can have lasting effects on movement, bladder and bowel function, and other aspects of development. Every child’s experience is different, and Cameron will need ongoing medical care as he grows.

His early progress, however, gave his family reasons to feel hopeful. His parents were grateful to the medical team who cared for them throughout the pregnancy, surgery and hospital stay.

A Future Filled With Possibilities

At two months old, Cameron was flourishing under the care of the Riley team. His mother described him as having a relaxed personality, a full head of hair and a way of winning over the nurses who looked after him.

His journey shows how advances in fetal surgery can give some babies with serious congenital conditions a chance at better outcomes before they take their first breath.

For Rebecca and Lavelle, every little kick and every new milestone matters. Their story is not a promise that every challenge has disappeared; it is a reminder of what early diagnosis, specialized care and a family’s determination can make possible.

Source: Riley Children’s Health, “Life-changing fetal surgery treats spina bifida,” March 5, 2026.