Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Luke, who was as beautiful as a little boy could be — with thick, brown hair and a ceaseless, churning energy. Like every little boy, he grew up too fast. But unlike most little boys, he was born with a problem that grew even faster than he did.
By the time Luke celebrated his 10th birthday, his energy was gone. He felt tired pretty much all the time. He couldn’t play with his friends. Sometimes, he couldn’t muster the strength to leave his bed. He lost weight, till his bones showed through his skin, till he was just a fraction of himself.
Fortunately, in this time, there lived a doctor named Tony, who met Luke and his parents.
Dr. Tony spoke very quietly. He was gentle and patient. He had treated many boys and girls like Luke before, with spina bifida. He knew that part of Luke’s spinal cord had grown outside his spinal column. Kids like Luke often grow up with bladders that do not grow with them, or that allow urine to leak and back up into the kidney. This is one of the worst things that can happen to a spina bifida patient. Now it was happening to Luke.
