Charity Skydive for Scoliosis
Donation protected
Hi friends and strangers, my name is Kerri and I’m hoping ye will take just a few minutes to read this. On the 12th of July my mom, Breda will be jumping 10,000 feet out of an airplane to raise money for the outstanding charity ‘Straight Ahead.’
In 2010, at just the age of nine, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. Scoliosis is the curvature and sometimes twisting of the spine. At a young age this was a very scary concept, however the further challenge of the waiting list was then presented to us. For 4 very long years my scoliosis worsened, in Pat’s words (my orthopaedic surgeon) ‘growth is not your friend.’ Although in pain and discomfort, the wait was by far the most difficult. We had private health insurance and a talented, eager surgeon willing to perform the surgery. However lack of theatre time and resources for after care prevented my surgery from happening when it was initially needed. By the time I received a date for my surgery I was 13 and my spine was at a 92 degree curve.
My back the night before surgery December 2014.
The surgery was performed Christmas Eve and was 13hours long, I now have 26 bolts and 2 rods holding my spine in place. However, I cannot say the recovery of the surgery was anything compared to the years of waiting for a date. Today I am 20 and live a completely normal life, my scoliosis no longer affects anything I do, apart from jumping out of a plane... hence why my mom is taking my place. My mom is doing this skydive to raise money to go towards a surgery that can take someone off this waiting list.
My back just 1 year after surgery, aged 14.
To date Straight Ahead have taken 144 children off the HSE waiting list for much needed orthopaedic surgery. The money they receive goes towards equipment and treatment to allow these pro-bono surgeries to happen. However, the surgeons and medical team perform these surgeries for free, in their spare time. One of these amazing people is my own former surgeon Pat Kiely.
Any donations at all will be greatly appreciated, it is undoubtedly for a good cause. I hate the thought of another child or adolescent waiting as their bodies change with it out of their control.
[please note: all money donated will go directly to Straight Ahead. No money will be put towards the skydive].
In 2010, at just the age of nine, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. Scoliosis is the curvature and sometimes twisting of the spine. At a young age this was a very scary concept, however the further challenge of the waiting list was then presented to us. For 4 very long years my scoliosis worsened, in Pat’s words (my orthopaedic surgeon) ‘growth is not your friend.’ Although in pain and discomfort, the wait was by far the most difficult. We had private health insurance and a talented, eager surgeon willing to perform the surgery. However lack of theatre time and resources for after care prevented my surgery from happening when it was initially needed. By the time I received a date for my surgery I was 13 and my spine was at a 92 degree curve.
My back the night before surgery December 2014.
The surgery was performed Christmas Eve and was 13hours long, I now have 26 bolts and 2 rods holding my spine in place. However, I cannot say the recovery of the surgery was anything compared to the years of waiting for a date. Today I am 20 and live a completely normal life, my scoliosis no longer affects anything I do, apart from jumping out of a plane... hence why my mom is taking my place. My mom is doing this skydive to raise money to go towards a surgery that can take someone off this waiting list.
My back just 1 year after surgery, aged 14.
To date Straight Ahead have taken 144 children off the HSE waiting list for much needed orthopaedic surgery. The money they receive goes towards equipment and treatment to allow these pro-bono surgeries to happen. However, the surgeons and medical team perform these surgeries for free, in their spare time. One of these amazing people is my own former surgeon Pat Kiely.
Any donations at all will be greatly appreciated, it is undoubtedly for a good cause. I hate the thought of another child or adolescent waiting as their bodies change with it out of their control.
[please note: all money donated will go directly to Straight Ahead. No money will be put towards the skydive].
Organizer
Kerri Hourigan
Organizer
