8-Year-Old Alleigh Defies the Odds

Alleigh, age 8 from Sallisaw, Oklahoma, defied the odds before she even entered the world.

When Alleigh’s mom, Lauren, was 17 weeks pregnant, doctors informed her that her daughter had spina bifida, a type of neural tube birth defect occurring once in every 2,000 births. It is complex and affects no two individuals in the same way. The condition develops in early-stage pregnancy, the result of incomplete closure of the spine, which leaves areas of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed.

Lauren was determined to do all that she could to bring Alleigh into this world and give her the chance to live an amazing life. Before she was even born at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health, Alleigh underwent a surgery to repair her spinal cord.

Alleigh is now supported by a multidisciplinary care team at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, including pediatric specialists in orthopedics, urology and neurology. Since setting foot in the hospital, both she and her mother have felt at home.

“Each caregiver at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital has been a blessing. They have become a family, and this place has become a home. We have the very best right here at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital,” shared Lauren.

Providers, like Adam Rensing, M.D., a pediatric urologist, set their focus on what Alleigh needs to live an active and healthy life.

We seek to support and educate families about their child's medical condition. At the same time, we also seek to understand their concerns, values, and goals. In this way, we can provide the best care to each of our families.

Her care team provides Alleigh and her family withthe confidence they need to face any hurdles and live each day to the fullest. Although Alleigh’s parents, Lauren and Cory, were prepared for her to spend the majority of her life in a wheelchair, she has conquered every milestone from walking to running and riding her bike. Eight years after her initial diagnosis, Alleigh continues to defy the odds

Described by her family as patient and thriving, Alleigh enjoys playing with her friends and 9-year-old sister, Brinley—she just does things her way, even if it might look a little different to others.

Inspired by the care team who has helped her so much over the years, Alleigh wants to be a doctor or nurse when she grows up, able to help other kids to defy the odds and live their best lives.