A Georgia 12-year-old living with spina bifida got to meet a sea turtle whose medical condition is similar to her own this month.
Kendall Barfield lives in Columbus and was diagnosed with spina bifida before she was born during her 20-week appointment, said her mother, Danielle Barfield.
The condition occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly, leading to walking and mobility issues.
When her parents visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island for a conference in November 2022, they learned about Bandit, a sea turtle who had been injured in a boat accident. The accident injured her spine and left her partially paralyzed. Now, she can’t move her rear flippers.
It was close to Christmas, so Kendall’s parents virtually adopted the turtle for their daughter. Her mom, Danielle, eventually posted about the girl adopting the turtle.
This past December, someone from Jekyll Island reached out to write about Kendall for 31•81, the organization’s magazine , said Kathryn Hearn, Jekyll Island’s marketing communications manager.