An innovative and minimally invasive fetal surgery available at Intermountain Health Primary Children's Hospital repairs spinal defect before birth.
Billings, MT (PRUnderground) June 3rd, 2026
Just 15 weeks into her pregnancy, Nicole Lacy learned during a routine prenatal appointment that her unborn child had a severe form of spina bifida. Lacy was quickly connected with maternal fetal medicine specialists at Intermountain Health in Billings, Mont. and a nationally recognized fetal surgery team at Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake. Together, Intermountain caregivers guided the family through their options and coordinated care across state lines.
Spina bifida is a congenital neural tube defect occurring when the spinal column fails to close completely during the first month of pregnancy. Spina bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States, affecting approximately 70,000 to 166,000 babies annually.
Nicole and her husband were quickly immersed in a complex and emotional decision-making process.
They worked with their care teams to fully understand both the risks and potential outcomes. The early diagnosis gave them time to gather information, ask questions, and carefully consider what quality of life would look like for their daughter.
“We had time to process, ask the questions, and do the testing to gather all the information before we had to make a decision,” said Lacy.
The couple focused on making a decision that would give their child the best possible chance at a healthy, independent future.
Ultimately, the family chose to move forward with an innovative minimally invasive fetal surgery after learning it could significantly improve their daughter’s long-term outlook. By addressing the condition before birth, the procedure offered the opportunity to reduce the risk of severe complications and give their daughter a stronger start.
At 26 weeks of pregnancy, Lacy underwent the minimally invasive fetal surgery at Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City to repair her daughter spinal defect before birth.
During the procedure, a specialized surgical team used a fetoscopic approach, making only small incisions in the uterus rather than a large open incision. Through these small entry points, surgeons can access the baby and carefully close the opening in the spine while the baby remains in the womb.
“Using this method we only have to make three small incisions on the uterus, and we use a camera along with small tools to repair the baby’s spine,” said Stephen Fenton, MD, a pediatric surgeon at Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital. “Because we don’t have to make a larger incision on the uterus it gives the mother the opportunity for a regular delivery this pregnancy, as well as in the future.”
Repairing the defect before birth, the procedure helps reduce pressure on the brain and spinal cord, lowering the risk of long‑term physical and cognitive complications while improving overall outcomes for both mother and baby.
Compared to traditional open fetal surgery, the minimally invasive approach also reduces the likelihood of complications for the mother and allows for safer future pregnancies.
Following surgery, Lacy was able to return home to Montana, where she received frequent monitoring from her local maternal fetal medicine team, including multiple weekly visits to track both her health and her baby’s development. That period of stability allowed her to recover while remaining close to family.
Lacy would return to Utah for the delivery so that the final weeks of her pregnancy could be carefully managed and monitored for the health of both mom and baby.
Her baby girl Harper was an early gift delivered on Christmas Eve.
Harper would spend several weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Primary Children’s Hospital before being transferred to the pediatric floor at St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings.
Now a thriving infant, Harper is meeting developmental milestones and shows no signs of many complications once considered likely.
“She did absolutely perfect,” Lacy said. “We can’t wait to enjoy her and enjoy the summer and do all of the things that we’ve always wanted to do with our child.”
For the Lacy family, the experience underscored the importance of integrated, high-level care.
“The outcome we have today wouldn’t have been possible without this team,” Lacy said. “Being part of a system where specialists can collaborate so closely changed our daughter’s life,” Lacy said. “We’ll always be grateful for that.”
Make a Call for Kids on June 1-6 is designed to help local kids, like Harper, survive and thrive.
Funds raised will benefit children’s services at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital home to the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Surgery program in eastern Montana.
By donating, you’re giving our children the healthy future they deserve. Join in helping support kids in our community. To give please go to svhkids.org or call 406-237-KIDS or text KIDS to 32037.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a nonprofit health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/. For more information, see intermountainhealth.org/ or call 801-442-2000.
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