Teen With Spina Bifida Wins 12 State Track Titles

When Conner Hunt was born with spina bifida, doctors had to perform emergency surgery within 24 hours to close the gap in his spine. By age 18, he'd undergone about 40 surgeries, but he's also racked up 12 state championships and four national titles in wheelchair track.

"When someone says I can't do something, I find a way to prove them wrong," says the Freedom Township, Ohio athlete who just earned a spot on the University of Cincinnati track team.

Spina bifida occurs when a baby's spine doesn't close properly during pregnancy, which can cause paralysis, loss of feeling in the legs, and other serious complications. For Conner, it meant surgeries to correct clubfoot, drain fluid from his brain, and help him manage his bladder and bowels independently.

The condition affected Conner's bladder so severely that doctors worried about his kidney function. In 2020, Cleveland Clinic pediatric urologist Dr. Lynn Woo performed a bladder augmentation and created a channel to his belly button so he could drain urine easily using a small tube.

"These procedures have allowed him to be more independent and enjoy the things he loves to do," says Dr. Woo.

Conner didn't wait for his medical challenges to resolve before chasing his dreams. In second grade, he joined the National Wheelchair Basketball Association and played for the Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers and Cincinnati Dragons.

By seventh grade, he discovered wheelchair track. Over the next six years, he became one of the most decorated high school para athletes in his state, breaking records in seated races.

Why This Inspires

Conner's mom Amanda says they never treated him differently from their other sons. They just focused on getting him the tools he needed to choose his own path.

"We tailor treatment to each patient because spina bifida affects everyone differently," says Dr. Woo. "Spina bifida shouldn't define or hold any child back from achieving their full potential."

With advances in treatment, including in utero surgery to repair spina bifida before birth, doctors now focus less on survival and more on helping kids thrive. Conner's multidisciplinary care team brought together specialists in neurology, orthopedics, urology, and surgery to give him the best shot at independence.

His advice to others facing challenges? "If someone says something isn't possible, try to dig deeper and see if you can find a way to make it happen."