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Alycia is your typical active 12 year old. She is very crafty and loves to play outside whether it be shooting hoops or just running laps around the property because it is "fun".
On January 22nd, Alycia and I went to the doctors to have her lip looked at. When checking her breathing the doctor noticed a 'hump' on her back. He sent us immediately to the emergency room for x-rays of her back. When the image came up on the screen, there it was....her spine in the shape of a backwards S. Being winter and Alycia wearing so many layers we hadn't noticed the hump on her back. In November she was still poolside in a bikini with a perfectly straight spine. What a shock!
We went back to the doctors where she was diagnosed with " Rapid Severe onset of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis". Her Thoracic spine (upper) had moved to a 32° curvature and her Lumbar spine (lower) moved 20° the opposite direction. We left with heavy hearts and an urgent referral to Shriners Children's Hospital in Sacramento.
The soonest Shriners could get Alycia in was on April 5th. On April 5th we met with Dr. Roberto at Shriners. She had new x-rays taken of Alycia's back. Alycia's Thoracic spine in less than four months had moved another 26° now resting at 58°. She is past the point of a simple back brace which is what we were hoping for. She sat and cried in my arms while they explained the surgery she will require. They did an EKG to make sure her heart is healthy for surgery. We scheduled her pediatric physical and pre-op appointments.
On April 20th we had her pediatric physical. She is very physically fit and healthy. Surgery is a go. They drew blood to run tests as well as to get her blood type in case transfusions are needed. They did another EKG, results were good. They also put her through a battery of breathing tests. Because of the compression on her lungs from the curvature of her spine, her breathing and lung capacity is being affected.
On April 22nd we went to UC Davis in Sacramento to have her MRI done. I could tell Alycia was scared although she hid it well. This little girl is one tough cookie and we are so proud of her! The MRI will give the surgeons (she has 2 that will be operating on her) a solid blueprint of what needs to be done.
We will have more information after her pre-op appointment on May 3rd. We know they are going to do a surgical procedure called 'Spinal Fusion' to straighten the curve and then fuse the vertebrae together so that they heal into a solid single bone. This will stop growth completely on the parts of the spine affected by Scoliosis. She will likely be in a back brace for a period of her recovery.
The area of her back where her rib has been pushed out creating the 'hump' may require a separate surgy to correct. We are awaiting confirmation from the surgeons . if it does require a separate surgery, it will be considered "cosmetic" and is not covered by her insurance.
With all of these sudden increasing expenses, it is time to swallow our pride and ask for help. Since we have no actual idea of what costs we will have to absorb we have set our goal at $6,000 for now. If there is money left over after medical expenses, the remaining balance will be used to make her recovery easier for as long as it will take.
Alycia is scheduled for surgery on May 13th at Shriners Children's Hospital. She will be in the hospital for 5-7 days. I will be staying with her during this time along with transporting visitors. Alycia has medical insurance that will cover some of the costs. I am not sure as of yet what all is and is not covered. I know the MRI's are not, I found a program that was able to help cover that. The funds raised will be used for unforseen medical bills, food while I am at the hospital (they only provide for patients), fuel and travel expenses and any special equipment or items needed for Alycia with her recovery to make it as comfortable of a transition as possible.
We would like to thank you for your donations and ask that you please keep Alycia and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Please don't forget to click share, it only takes a moment and means the world to us
On January 22nd, Alycia and I went to the doctors to have her lip looked at. When checking her breathing the doctor noticed a 'hump' on her back. He sent us immediately to the emergency room for x-rays of her back. When the image came up on the screen, there it was....her spine in the shape of a backwards S. Being winter and Alycia wearing so many layers we hadn't noticed the hump on her back. In November she was still poolside in a bikini with a perfectly straight spine. What a shock!
We went back to the doctors where she was diagnosed with " Rapid Severe onset of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis". Her Thoracic spine (upper) had moved to a 32° curvature and her Lumbar spine (lower) moved 20° the opposite direction. We left with heavy hearts and an urgent referral to Shriners Children's Hospital in Sacramento.
The soonest Shriners could get Alycia in was on April 5th. On April 5th we met with Dr. Roberto at Shriners. She had new x-rays taken of Alycia's back. Alycia's Thoracic spine in less than four months had moved another 26° now resting at 58°. She is past the point of a simple back brace which is what we were hoping for. She sat and cried in my arms while they explained the surgery she will require. They did an EKG to make sure her heart is healthy for surgery. We scheduled her pediatric physical and pre-op appointments.
On April 20th we had her pediatric physical. She is very physically fit and healthy. Surgery is a go. They drew blood to run tests as well as to get her blood type in case transfusions are needed. They did another EKG, results were good. They also put her through a battery of breathing tests. Because of the compression on her lungs from the curvature of her spine, her breathing and lung capacity is being affected.
On April 22nd we went to UC Davis in Sacramento to have her MRI done. I could tell Alycia was scared although she hid it well. This little girl is one tough cookie and we are so proud of her! The MRI will give the surgeons (she has 2 that will be operating on her) a solid blueprint of what needs to be done.
We will have more information after her pre-op appointment on May 3rd. We know they are going to do a surgical procedure called 'Spinal Fusion' to straighten the curve and then fuse the vertebrae together so that they heal into a solid single bone. This will stop growth completely on the parts of the spine affected by Scoliosis. She will likely be in a back brace for a period of her recovery.
The area of her back where her rib has been pushed out creating the 'hump' may require a separate surgy to correct. We are awaiting confirmation from the surgeons . if it does require a separate surgery, it will be considered "cosmetic" and is not covered by her insurance.
With all of these sudden increasing expenses, it is time to swallow our pride and ask for help. Since we have no actual idea of what costs we will have to absorb we have set our goal at $6,000 for now. If there is money left over after medical expenses, the remaining balance will be used to make her recovery easier for as long as it will take.
Alycia is scheduled for surgery on May 13th at Shriners Children's Hospital. She will be in the hospital for 5-7 days. I will be staying with her during this time along with transporting visitors. Alycia has medical insurance that will cover some of the costs. I am not sure as of yet what all is and is not covered. I know the MRI's are not, I found a program that was able to help cover that. The funds raised will be used for unforseen medical bills, food while I am at the hospital (they only provide for patients), fuel and travel expenses and any special equipment or items needed for Alycia with her recovery to make it as comfortable of a transition as possible.
We would like to thank you for your donations and ask that you please keep Alycia and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Please don't forget to click share, it only takes a moment and means the world to us