Sara Derting's Spina Bifida Journey: Hope, Advocacy, and Letting Asa Lead the Way

When Sara Derting learned at 24 weeks pregnant that her son Asa had spina bifida, she was suddenly thrown into a world of unfamiliar medical terms, urgent decisions, and overwhelming uncertainty. In this episode of Moms Like Me , Sara shares the raw reality of receiving a difficult prenatal diagnosis, navigating fetal surgery options, processing fear during pregnancy, and learning how to advocate for her child before she had even met him. Sara's story is also one of deep hope. Asa, now five, has continued to surprise doctors, defy expectations, and live with a joyful determination that has shaped the way Sara approaches motherhood. From NICU days and brain surgery to physical therapy, biking, moving across the country, and learning to stay present, this conversation offers encouragement for families facing diagnosis, disability, and the unknown. Listeners will hear a powerful reminder that a diagnosis is not the whole story — and that sometimes the best thing a parent can do is take the next day, trust their child, and never let someone else define what is possible.