I'm a 35 year-old man. I was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida, which left me paralyzed from the waist down, among other health problems. There are different types of Spina Bifida: Occulta,  Meningocele & Myelomeningocele. The type of Spina Bifida I was born with is Myelomeningocele. This form of Spina Bifida occurs when the meninges (protective covering of the spinal cord) and spinal nerves come through the open part of the spine. This is the most serious type of Spina Bifida, which causes nerve damage and more severe disabilities.

For more information about Spina Bifida & the Spina Bifida Association of America, please visit http://www.sbaa.org