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About COSBA
We are a
dedicated group of parents, grandparents and friends who support
one another within the Central Ohio Spina Bifida community.
We strive to make the lives of those affected by SB a little
better and raise community awareness!
About Spina Bifida
An estimated 70,000 people in the United States
are currently living with Spina Bifida, the most common
permanently disabling birth defect. Over 250,000 Americans are
in the Spina Bifida Community. Spina Bifida is a neural tube
defect that happens in the first month of pregnancy when the
spinal column doesn’t close completely. There are 60 million
women at risk of having a baby born with Spina Bifida. Everyday,
an average of 8 babies are affected by Spina Bifida or a similar
birth defect of the brain and spine. Each year, about 3,000
pregnancies are affected by these birth defects.
The Challenges of Spina Bifida
The effects of Spina Bifida are different for
every person. Up to 90 percent of children with the worst form
of Spina Bifida have hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and must
have surgery to insert a “shunt” that helps drain the fluid—the
shunt stays in place for the lifetime of the person. Other
conditions include full or partial paralysis, bladder and bowel
control difficulties, learning disabilities, depression, latex
allergy and social and sexual issues.
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Central Ohio Spina Bifida Alliance