OFM_TalesOfTriumph_0419FINAL.QXD_Layout 1 3 / 21 / 19 5 : 27 PM Page 1 Tales of Triumph By MATT COSENTINO and LIZ HUNTER s the advancements in technology and cutting - edge treatments continue to push modern medicine forward , there are plenty of real - life examples of groundbreaking health care happening right here in our backyard . Each year , Orlando Family Magazine looks to highlight shining examples of how the local medical community consistently rises to the occasion and these wonderful stories will introduce you to some amazing health care professionals and the patients whose lives they have forever touched . A EVA RODRIGUEZ - CORDERO , ADAN GONGORA AND MIA ISABELLA Rodriguez - Cordero was the fifth pending on the level of the defect . fetal surgery case at Winnie Palmer For pregnant women who wish to I won’t get tired Hospital for Women & Babies . “ The carry the fetus to term , a postnatal true heroes of this journey are the surgery to repair the defect is an of telling them mothers . Their courage , hope , com - option . Rodriguez - Cordero could not thank you ” mitment and dedication to help their bear the thought of ending her preg - fetuses whom they never met or nancy and was told about a specialist , touched is a unique bond of mother - Dr . Cole Greves , a maternal fetal hood we don’t typically encounter , ” medicine physician with Orlando Elbabaa says . Health , who might be able to help . EVA RODRIGUEZ ? CORDERO DR . SAMER ELBABAA After recovering in the hospital Rodriguez - Cordero was fortunate AND ADAN GONGORA WERE for several days and spending over a Corderofound out she was a candidate , to be so close to this hospital system , OVER THE MOON ABOUT BE ? week at the Ronald McDonald House , she didn’t think twice , even knowing which became the first in the state COMING PREGNANT WITH Rodriguez - Cordero was discharged the risks involved . of Florida to perform in - utero surgery THEIR FIRST CHILD . Everything early . She carried her baby for 37 Elbabaa and Greves play a dual to repair spina bifida in May 2018 . seemed just perfect until 16 weeks in weeks and three days , the longest of role in this procedure . “ Each person The next closest fetal surgery centers when the obstetrician wanted to speak the fetal surgery patients so far , and has a very critical role and they’re are in Tennessee and North Carolina . to them in person about some test her daughter , Mia Isabella , was born uniquely qualified to perform their “ Fetal surgery for spina bifida is results . The baby’s AFP ( alpha feto - via C - section on Feb . 25 . specific duty , ” says Elbabaa . “ The not a cure ; it is an option for parents protein ) levels were higher than nor - “ She’s perfect , ” says Rodriguez - procedure begins with Dr . Greves to consider , ” says Dr . Samer Elbabaa , mal , and Rodriguez - Cordero was re - Cordero . “ She’s like any other normal openingthe mother’s abdomen , similar pediatric neurosurgeon at Orlando ferred to a high - risk clinic . baby . . . . You can’t tell anything is to how he would perform a Cesarean Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for “ I was in tears , just freaking out wrong with her . ” section . He then mobilizes the uterus Children , one of the most prominent and I had to pull myself together to Elbabaa says the medical team is out and we have to adjust the fetus in fetalneurosurgeons in the world . “ This go back to work for the day . It was optimistic she will continue to do just the right position . The uterus is procedure has been proven to greatly horrible , ” she says . For nights on end , well with no need for shunt placement opened just enough to expose the reduce the need to divert spinal fluid Rodriguez - Cordero would wake up in the future . fetus ’ spine . The next part is my from the brain and can improve mo - with panic attacks . Further testing “ I don’t know what I would have portion of the procedure , which is a bility and the possibility that a child confirmed that her baby had spina done if I had to go somewhere else , ” form of micro - neurosurgery , where can potentially walk independently or bifida , a neural tube defect that develops says Rodriguez - Cordero . “ I don’t the lights are dimmed and I use a mi - with minimal assistance . ” during the first month of pregnancy know what the outcome would have croscope to perform the spina bifida In order to be candidates , the when the fetus ’ spinal cord coverage been . I won’t get tired of telling them repair , under high magnification . I mother and baby must meet certain does not close properly . thank you for what they did . I look at then hand things back over to Dr . requirements , and the procedure must Those affected by spina bifida her and she is perfect and it’s because Greves to close the uterus and mom’s be performed between 19 and 26 canhave different challenges , including of them . ” abdomen . ” weeks of pregnancy . Once Rodriguez - physical and mental impairments , de - 30 ORLANDO FAMILY april 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM