ULYSSES, NY (607NewsNow) — A native of the Ithaca area, Josh Hamilton is running for a good cause this year at the New York City Marathon, honoring his son Nico.

On February 16th, 2024, Josh and his wife Amy learned during a routine ultrasound that their soon to be second born child, Nico, had Spina Bifida. In what Josh describes as a roller coaster of emotions for their family, they were connected with the fetal medical team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Extensive testing showed them that their son was eligible for fetal repair surgery, which Amy and Nico underwent on March 26th, 2024, when Nico was just 23 weeks old.

“The time between that surgery and Nico’s birth were some of the toughest days our family has ever endured. Being in the medical field myself, I constantly feared the worst for my wife, my son, and my daughter,” wrote Josh on his CHOP Donor Drive website.

Post-surgery, Amy moved to Philadelphia with the help of both her and Josh’s parents to be close to CHOP. Josh stayed in New York with their daughter Nina, the two of them visiting Amy on the weekends. On May 1st, 2024, Amy’s water broke, when Nico was only 29 weeks old. Nico wasn’t born until the next month, Josh taking a leave of absence from work to stay with his wife, who was in the hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy.

“He had a short stay in the NICU, and thanks to the fetal surgery he received, his outcome has been nothing short of a miracle. Because of the repair, he will likely never need a shunt and may even be able to walk one day. His outcome is incredibly fortunate compared to many others living with this disease. The innovations and expertise at CHOP gave our son a chance at a better life. We are forever grateful to the entire fetal team, the nurses, and especially Dr. Adzick and Dr. Heuer, who helped guide us through the most difficult time in our lives. We could not have done this without them, or without the incredible support of our family and friends.

“That is why I am running the New York City Marathon. I am running to raise funds so other families can receive the same hope and life-changing care that Nico did. This marathon represents strength, perseverance, and hope, just like Nico’s journey,” wrote Josh.

Those interested in donating to Josh’s cause can visit his CHOP Donor Drive website here.