When the Biannka Walker learned she was expecting a baby after IVF treatment, she and her husband/partner were overjoyed. Despite a very difficult first trimester, Biannka remained determined to face every challenge and prayed for strength.
Then, Baby Zion tried to enter the world at just 28 weeks, and Biannka was admitted to The Women’s Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital to be monitored and set for bed rest. Zion was born 33 days later as his dad Sakata was re-deployed to Afghanistan. Sakata had to watch his son being born over a video call.
Around the age of 3, Zion was officially diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). After several temporary therapies and treatments, Zion’s parents continued to advocate for their son. So when Zion qualified for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery, the family was thrilled for a long-term option.
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital is one of the few pediatric neuroscience programs in the country, and the only one in Texas, offering the TS Park SDR for children with cerebral palsy who suffer from spastic diplegia or spastic hemiplegia. This particular procedure is one of the most effective treatments for children with cerebral palsy. SDR selectively removes the abnormal stretch reflex that causes excessive muscle tone or tightness in the legs by carefully testing and cutting the nerve rootlets in the spinal cord.
At just three months post-surgery, Zion was standing up and just watching TV one day. To Biannka, it was a huge moment to see Zion having such motor control that he didn’t have before the SDR surgery. Now Zion is running, jumping and of course, dancing all over the place!