By Juan Manuel Rodriguez, Freelance Journalist
Peter Bleka, 21, North Park University biology student, shares his insights about Spina Bifida and his drive to succeed in the medical field on April 23 in a personal interview at his residence. (Photo/Juan Manuel Rodriguez)
Peter Bleka, 21, loyal Cubs fan, is a current biology student at North Park University, who has thrived through a challenging upbringing as a reflective intellectual with Spina Bifida.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Spina Bifida (SB) is “a neural tube defect (a disorder involving incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or their protective coverings) caused by the failure of the fetus’s spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy.”
This disorder basically causes mobility difficulties and, in some cases, learning limitations. It is frequent to see this disorder accompanied by hydrocephalus that is “excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.”
During his early and high school years, Bleka had a prosperous youth career in wheelchair basketball at the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA) while successively becoming a coach there afterwards.
He is known among his friends as a “jokester” but rest assure he has gone against prejudices of adversities and has proven each of them wrong by exceeding his potential on more than one occasion.
A Lawful Mind 