By Shirley Birman
After hearing the news that Sasha would have to wear a back brace to minimize the risk of her curve progressing, I must admit that I was very skeptical. I even spent the next couple of weeks researching the scoliosis surgery procedure and recovery, rather than accepting the decision to try the brace. My conviction that the brace wasn’t going to work became even greater upon seeing the brace and trying to comprehend how Sasha would ever get used to wearing it, and even learn to sleep in it. Turns out that kids are much more resilient and capable of overcoming obstacles than we sometimes give them credit for. While I was laying in bed unable to sleep at night, as I researched every angle of scoliosis and curve progression, Sasha took matter into her own hands. With resolve and determination, Sasha gradually progressed from wearing the brace a few hours at a time, to sleeping through the night in it, to wearing it nearly all day.
My original skepticism stemmed from my own scoliosis journey. I was diagnosed with scoliosis at around 12 years old and within the next year my curve had progressed significantly. At 13, I started bracing, but admittedly I did not wear the brace as much as needed. The braces were quite different in the early 1990’s and I could never adjust to it. By 14 years old, my curve had progressed to 53 degrees and surgery was the only option.
Given my own experience, I began monitoring Sasha when she was just a young child. I could tell by the time that she was 7 years old that her spine was not straight. I have always held the belief that early detection is instrumental in identifying and taking action with scoliosis. Although we did not start bracing until Sasha was 10, we were closely monitoring it and starting bracing before she had her teenage growth spurt.
Over the next few years, Sasha wore 2 different Rigo-Cheneau braces. We were very fortunate to have an amazing orthotist work with us to create the proper braces. He could tell that I was very skeptical, but asked that I keep an open mind and trust the process. I never expected that the brace would stop the progression of the curve, let alone correct it by more than 50 percent!
Although the news that your child has scoliosis is upsetting, it is important to note that this is just a temporary bump-it-the-road in life. If the need for bracing or even surgery arises, there are amazing doctors and orthotists that work closely with families to ensure a successful outcome. It is important to speak with others who have been through the process to gain knowledge and better understand your situation. Organizations such as “Setting Scoliosis Straight” allow us to share our stories and experiences and help the community by providing a supportive environment. We need to realize that our kids are tough and resilient and we will get through this together!
To learn more about Sasha’s journey from her own perspective, visit her personal story page by clicking the button below.
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