Joel Westbrook age #
SPINA BIFIDA
On June 6, 2006, Wendy and Craig Westbrook
learned that their son would be born with Spina
Bifida. Wendy was just over 20 weeks into her
pregnancy at that time. In explaining what the
diagnosis would mean, the specialist left little room for hope. He said that their
son would never walk, would be mentally challenged, and the negatives went on
and on.
Joel was born on October 11th, and his first surgery took place just two days
later to close the opening where his spinal cord did not form correctly. Five days
later, he had surgery to have a shunt put in place. Joel spent twelve days in the
NICU at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. The first seven months of 2012 were
filled with ups and downs, including four surgeries. Joel would have surgery, start
to improve, start having trouble again, and have another surgery. While his mom
mentions this time as a “roller coaster”, she is also grateful for the little things,
like Joel’s renewed ability to wiggle his toes. Joel’s larger than life personality
always lights up the room.