Oneinevery1,000pregnanciesinBritainhasaspineorbraindefectlikespinabifida.Thirtyyearsago,actressRuthMadeleywasoneofthem.Despitehavingspinabifidaherself,itisaconditionshedoesn’tfullyunderstand.Inthisprogramme,Ruthsetsouttodiscoverwhyshehasit,whetheritcouldhavebeenpreventedandwhatitmeansforherfuture.Ruthmeetsthelordcampaigningforachangeinthelawthathesayscouldpreventthousandsofbirthdefects.Andshediscoversthatapioneeringsurgerycouldofferadifferentfutureforbabiesdiagnosedwithspinabifida,byoperatingonthembeforetheyareevenborn.Shediscovershowthissurgerywasinvented,meetsthefamilieswhoselivesithaschangedandfollowstheteamofBritishsurgeonspreparingtoperformthisextraordinaryfoetalsurgeryintheUKfortheveryfirsttime.ButRuthalsoexaminesattitudesinBritaintodayandaskswhetherweshouldchangethewayweseedisability.
2024-08-05