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Oneinevery1,000pregnanciesinBritainhasaspineorbraindefectlikespinabifida.Thirtyyearsago,actressRuthMadeleywasoneofthem.Despitehavingspinabifidaherself,itisaconditionshedoesn’tfullyunderstand.Inthisprogramme,Ruthsetsouttodiscoverwhyshehasit,whetheritcouldhavebeenpreventedandwhatitmeansforherfuture.Ruthmeetsthelordcampaigningforachangeinthelawthathesayscouldpreventthousandsofbirthdefects.Andshediscoversthatapioneeringsurgerycouldofferadifferentfutureforbabiesdiagnosedwithspinabifida,byoperatingonthembeforetheyareevenborn.Shediscovershowthissurgerywasinvented,meetsthefamilieswhoselivesithaschangedandfollowstheteamofBritishsurgeonspreparingtoperformthisextraordinaryfoetalsurgeryintheUKfortheveryfirsttime.ButRuthalsoexaminesattitudesinBritaintodayandaskswhetherweshouldchangethewayweseedisability.