Eight years ago, Mark and Nicole Logan lost their son shortly after he was born with severe spina bifida myelomeningocele. Joshua Logan did not survive past two hours old.He was one of the three children, out of seven, Mark and Nicole Logan have had with spina bifida.It’s left them calling for more understanding of the condition during Spina Bifida Awareness Week, which runs from September 1 to 7.“It’s just creating an awareness that it can happen to everybody,” Ms Logan said.“There’s a lot of depression with spina bifida as well, so it’s just making people aware of that.”In 2009, Ms Logan created the Central Victorian Spina Bifida Support Group for families affected by the condition.“We’ve had three children with it and there’s not a lot of support locally, it is sort of all Melbourne, so we wanted to create something,” she said.The birth defect has no cure and it affects about 30 to 35 Victorian babies a year, according to the Spina Bifida Foundation of Victoria.Spina bifida involves the incomplete development of the spine and spinal cord, which occurs in the first month of pregnancy. It causes various degrees of paralysis and developmental problems.Caleb, 13, was the first Logan child with spina bifida and, like Joshua, he was diagnosed before birth with the severest type, myelomeninocele.Connor, 11, was detected with spina bifida occulta, the mildest form, when he started school.Tahni, 16, and Jaylon, 15, Tyson, 6, and Jakob, 4, were born without it.“We are living life the same as everyone else does, just wanting to do it and be around people who understand,’’ Ms Logan said.“They are just the same as everyone else, they like getting involved with what everyone else does.’’Mr Logan, a nurse and social worker, is urging women who are planning to have children to have health checks.“You actually need to have your medical done and blood tests done, especially if you’re anaemic,’’ he said.“There are a lot of risk factors there.’’While the cause of spina bifida is unknown, women who take increased amounts of folate one month before and three months after conception can reduce the risk by up to 70 per cent.Mr Logan also stressed the importance of taking B12 and iron.For more information or support, call the Central Victorian Spina Bifida Support Group on 5443 5384.– Linh Ly on work placement