It's been a minute. Em has been living life and scoliosis has been on the back burner. Her last surgery was September of 2022. Three and a half years is the longest she has ever gone without a surgery and it has been a blessing! We knew the stretch was coming to an end.

At her recent appointment, we were told that the big surgery is coming along with another halo stay. The growth guidance Shilla rods are not guiding anymore. Her spine is doing it's own thing and she is in prime time for growth. The trick to success is timing the surgery right at the end of the most growth because after the surgery those parts of the spine will not grow anymore however if too much crooked growth happens, the lungs and heart get squished and the body starts to compensate for the curve. For examples she is having quite a bit of asthma issues due to her lung space right now as well as some leg length discrepancies because of the effects the spine rotation has on her hips.  So it is time. When we go back in August he would like both parents to come in and he warned us that we would be discussing and scheduling a surgery to remove her current hardware and attach a halo, a 6 week hospital stay in the halo following that surgery and then the big, final fusion at the end of the 6 weeks. If anything happens to the rods, like a break or skin puncture before then, this plan would start immediately. 

Em has also recently become an ambassador for Shriners' Hospital. She spent some time this summer training and meeting with other patients and she has her first couple events coming up. One of those events is the Shriners' Stroll which she is a captain for. Scroll to the bottom to see on the Stroll into Summer page. You can support her and Shriners' Hospital on her team page, Em's Crew.

Specific Prayer Requests

• Perfect timing for the surgery-maximizing height, maintaining health, time off of school and work, and Addison's senior year seasons
• A good halo sister or brother to spend 6 weeks with
• Current rod safety
• Guidance for Dr. Luhmann in her treatment

If you are new to Em's blog and unfamiliar with Halo, this was the last time Em did it in 2020. Under anesthesia they screw the halo into her skull. Then it is hooked to a pulley system with weights at the bottom that she wears during the day and at night. They add weights during the stay and this pulls her spine as straight as it will go without gravity pushing down.  It helps by gradually straightening the spine and helping the doctor make a surgery plan.