In April, Mila and her family spoke on the main stage at Children’s Hospitals Week at Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in Florida, sharing their remarkable journey. In 2017, Mila and her mom, Kylie, were the first patients at The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at Lurie Children’s to undergo surgery to repair spina bifida while Kylie was 22 weeks pregnant. The Chicago Institute team was hopeful that having this procedure before Mila was born would help prevent neurologic and mobility problems from happening, such as being paralyzed from the waist down. It was a success. Mila, now 7, can walk short distances unassisted. She takes piano lessons, is preparing a dance routine for a talent show. This summer, her plans include learning to use her new racing wheelchair and attending Camp Independence, an overnight camp for kids with spina bifida. She continues follow-up care with Lurie Children's Spina Bifida Center team, including Dr. Robin Bowman, who performed Mila and Kylie's surgery in 2017 along with The Chicago Institute's Director, Dr. Aimen Shaaban. We are so proud of Mila’s hard work and progress, and her family’s advocacy for spina bifida awareness! Learn more about treatment for spina bifida at The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health: https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/specialties-conditions/spina-bifida/ (fb)

From paramedic to food allergy advocate, Asha Brown never imagined she'd be responding to an emergency in her own home—until her 6-month-old son, Desmond, experienced anaphylaxis after his first peanut exposure. Now 5, Desmond recently became the 100th graduate of Lurie Children’s Pediatric Oral Immunotherapy Program (OIT), helping retrain his immune system and build daily protection against severe reactions. “The ability to eat a small amount of the food someone is allergic to daily provides protection against accidental exposures and alleviates the fear of a severe reaction. While OIT isn’t a cure for food allergies, this ‘bite protection’ improves quality of life for patients like Desmond and his family, and it helps families conquer the fear of their food allergy by actively doing something to help make it less scary,” said Abby Lang, MD, MSCI, Co-Director, Oral Immunotherapy Program, Lurie Children's Division of Allergy & Immunology. Read more about Desmond's success with OIT https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/desmond-finds-success-with-oral-immunotherapy/. #foodallergy #foodallergyawarenessweek #oit #oralimmunotherapy (fb)