Blog

Kathy Ricciardi is a 20 year old patient of Alfred I. duPont Children’s Hospital in Wilmington Delaware. She was diagnosed with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis when she was 10 years of age with a 22 degree spinal curvature. Despite bracing, her curve increased to 52 degrees and with significant truncal asymmetry…...

When I first found out I had scoliosis, one of my biggest concerns was how much it was going to affect my day to day life. I learned a great deal about myself when I started out in my brace. I found out I am tougher than I ever could…...

During the same visit that I got my scoliosis diagnosis, I also learned I needed surgery. It was shocking, scary, and confusing, but my favorite quote which got me through not only my scoliosis experience but changing schools, applying to college, and fighting for the starting goalie position was: “You’re…...

On May 17th, 2010, when I was fourteen years old, I underwent a spinal fusion. My spinal fusion was performed by Dr. Peter Newton at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California. At the time of my surgery, I had a sixty degree right thoracic curve that was only going…...

In 2010, I was thirteen years old and in the eighth grade. My life was going smoothly until I played a field hockey game one day after school. During the game, I twisted my knee, and as a result, I had to see an orthopedist. Surprisingly, the doctor was unable…...