OT Discussions: Spina Bifida Won’t Hold This 12-Year-Old Back

A YOUNG girl is taking Los Angeles by storm in her wheelchair, proving that you don’t need the ability to walk to be a daredevil. Luzi Castillo, 12, is gaining a reputation for her daring spirit and appetite for adventure. Born with Myelomeningocele – a form of Spina Bifida – the bones of Luzi’s spine didn’t form completely, resulting in an incomplete spinal canal. Luzi, who has had a total of 8 surgeries, is affected from the waist down, meaning she has use of her arms but has to use a wheelchair. Despite this, you will often find Luzi on the basketball court, at the skate park or on top of a surfboard.