- P
Summary of our cause
Isaac’s scoliosis is progressing and he needs a surgery to stop it from crushing his organs. Children's Hospital and Colorado Medicaid will only cover an archaic type of surgery to implant large steel rods to fuse most of his spine together. It is a very invasive and risky procedure, which if done will no doubt reduce his current quality of life and prevent him from participating in the variety of sports he loves.
We are working to raise funds to cover a more advanced form of surgery which is minimally invasive (think laparoscopic) would only require a small section of his spine to be fused, and will allow him to maintain far more motion and quality of life. This new form of surgery is only performed by a small handful of surgeons but is far safer with dramatically improved outcomes. One of the pioneers of this type of surgery, Dr. William Smith, who actually trained most of the other surgeons who can perform this type of surgery, has agreed to take Isaac’s case and help us! In the US this surgery would cost close to $1 million dollars! But Dr. Smith has built a world class facility in Cyprus, with far lower costs where he can do the same life changing procedure for only $150 thousand dollars!
Help us prevent Isaac from needing to go through this...
and instead only go through this...
So he can keep doing this…
and winning national medals like these
Learn More about Isaac
It’s no secret to anyone who meets him that Isaac is an exceptionally special person. Many people in his position are frustrated, angry, depressed, or even worse. Not Isaac. Isaac takes what he is given and with it, he grabs life by the wheels and steers his way to excitement, adventure and pure joy. I have never seen him without a smile on his face.
When Isaac was born at home, his parents and their midwife knew immediately that there was something very very wrong. Isaac’s spine had not sealed off normally and his spine and spinal nerves were exposed in his lower back. Isaac had and has both Spina Bifida and Scoliosis. He was rushed immediately to the hospital where his first of over 12 surgeries was performed. His family learned that Isaac would be paraplegic, meaning he would never have use of his legs and that many of his organs would be affected by a diminishing or non existing nerve supply.
Isaac’s parents, Debora and Gary, knew that Isaac’s life would bring him challenges and they also knew that they would never let that hold him back. Their family would rally around Isaac and encourage him to do anything he wanted while they would teach him to push himself to defy all odds, defy all social expectations and to live his life to it’s fullest.
Isaac does not disappoint. From HandCycling, to WheelChair Basketball (sometimes referred to as MurderBall due to its intensely aggressive nature), to WakeBoarding, and most recently to Curling, Isaac has managed to not only stay active but to participate in sports and at levels many would think impossible. In fact his skills in WheelChair Basket and WakeBoarding have landed him on both national teams and in the news several times!
Learn more about Isaac's current situation
At the age of 16 Isaac and his parents learned that his scoliosis has become extremely progressive. In less than two years his spine collapsed from a 20 degree scoliotic curvature to over 70 degrees. If the scoliosis is allowed to continue to progress, Isaac’s digestive organs will lose more and more of their vital nerve supply and may shut down completely.
Children's hospital recommended a radically invasive surgery which would open the length of his back and use Harrington Rods (long metal shafts) in an attempt to permanently fuse his lumbar and thoracic spinal vertebra into a motionless but hopefully straightened position. Isaac and his family, having spent years with fellow disabled athletes, are all too familiar with the hazards and potential failures of this dated approach. The recovery is often debilitating in and of itself, the massive amount of scar tissue resulting from tearing the musculature from the spine and reattaching can often lead to lifelong pain and the rods have the potential of breaking. In fact one of Isaac’s basketball coaches suffered with a Harrington Rod failure which caused even more damage.
Knowing the realities of this type of surgical approach, Isaac and his parents began searching for less invasive approaches using modern and cutting edge scientific approaches. After speaking to several physical therapists and chiropractors they were referred to PostureWorks Denver, an Advanced Certified Chiropractic BioPhysics Clinic. That’s where they met me, Dr. Jason Miller. I practice and teach an exceptionally rare and advanced form of spinal and physical rehabilitation named Chiropractic BioPhysics. When I first met Isaac and his mother Debora I educated them on the most effective methods of non surgical correction of scoliosis but explained that even these advanced approaches are minimally effective with scoliotic curves greater than 40 degrees. I too needed to explain that surgery would be Isaac’s best chances at a long and active life, but my recommendation was and is far different than that of Children’s Hospital. I explained a truly cutting edge minimally invasive surgical approach known as Lateral Access Surgery to Isaac and his family.
This 21st Century approach to Scoliosis correction is far more effective and far less invasive as it uses small laparoscopic punctures as opposed to full spinal incisions and an advanced type of surgical hardware called XLIF as opposed to Harrington Rods. This miraculous approach carries with it much less risk and far more benefit. The “only” challenge… there is not a surgeon in Colorado qualified to perform this type of an approach on a scoliosis as advanced as Isaac’s.
I introduced Isaac and his family to Dr. William Smith, one of the pioneers of minimally invasive spinal surgeries who literally travels the world performing and teaching these cutting edge techniques to a select few of the best surgeons across the globe. Dr. Smith, who also serves as the Chief of Neurosurgery at University Medical Center Las Vegas, the Director of Performance Improvement for the Western Regional Center for Brain & Spine Surgery and as the Chairman of American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Cyprus, consulted with myself and Isaac’s family amid several international trips.
Throughout the process I have been working with Isaac’s spine to improve its flexibility and Isaac’s neuromuscular control and stability, while simultaneously obtaining advanced biomechanical imaging so that I and Dr. Smith have as detailed an understanding of Isaac’s spine as possible. The efforts have been more than productive so far! Through the Chiropractic BioPhysics treatment, Isaac has already dramatically improved his strength, range of motion, neuromuscular control and spinal flexibility. After obtaining the advanced imaging Dr. Smith, gave us all some incredible news!
Dr. Smith is not only willing to take Isaac’s case, but believes through the combined approach of Advanced Chiropractic BioPhysics and Lateral Access Surgery Isaac’s spinal fusion can be limited to only the 6 vertebra creating the largest portion of the scoliotic curvature as opposed to the 12 or more vertebrae which would be fused with Harrington Rods if the surgery was performed at Children's Hospital. Isaac’s hospital stay should only be 3 days following the surgery and should be able to return to school inside of 6 weeks as opposed to the potential of a weeks long hospital stay and promise of months of in home recovery time which would be needed with the less effective and more invasive approach available in Colorado.
Where you come in…
Colorado Medicaid is refusing to cover the surgery because it cannot be done in Colorado. So to get this life changing and potentially life saving surgery… Isaac’s family needs to come up with a minimum of $150,000.00! Debora and Gary are getting a second mortgage on their home, their other 4 children and extended family members are contributing as much as they can but we need your help!
Isaac has already needed more than 12 surgeries over the years. He has needed specialized wheelchairs, wheelchair cushions, ongoing physical therapy and other financially challenging attention. The family has done and is doing all they can. Please do all you can as well.
Isaac’s scoliosis is progressing and he needs a surgery to stop it from crushing his organs. Children's Hospital and Colorado Medicaid will only cover an archaic type of surgery to implant large steel rods to fuse most of his spine together. It is a very invasive and risky procedure, which if done will no doubt reduce his current quality of life and prevent him from participating in the variety of sports he loves.
We are working to raise funds to cover a more advanced form of surgery which is minimally invasive (think laparoscopic) would only require a small section of his spine to be fused, and will allow him to maintain far more motion and quality of life. This new form of surgery is only performed by a small handful of surgeons but is far safer with dramatically improved outcomes. One of the pioneers of this type of surgery, Dr. William Smith, who actually trained most of the other surgeons who can perform this type of surgery, has agreed to take Isaac’s case and help us! In the US this surgery would cost close to $1 million dollars! But Dr. Smith has built a world class facility in Cyprus, with far lower costs where he can do the same life changing procedure for only $150 thousand dollars!
Help us prevent Isaac from needing to go through this...
and instead only go through this...
So he can keep doing this…
and winning national medals like these
Learn More about Isaac
It’s no secret to anyone who meets him that Isaac is an exceptionally special person. Many people in his position are frustrated, angry, depressed, or even worse. Not Isaac. Isaac takes what he is given and with it, he grabs life by the wheels and steers his way to excitement, adventure and pure joy. I have never seen him without a smile on his face.
When Isaac was born at home, his parents and their midwife knew immediately that there was something very very wrong. Isaac’s spine had not sealed off normally and his spine and spinal nerves were exposed in his lower back. Isaac had and has both Spina Bifida and Scoliosis. He was rushed immediately to the hospital where his first of over 12 surgeries was performed. His family learned that Isaac would be paraplegic, meaning he would never have use of his legs and that many of his organs would be affected by a diminishing or non existing nerve supply.
Isaac’s parents, Debora and Gary, knew that Isaac’s life would bring him challenges and they also knew that they would never let that hold him back. Their family would rally around Isaac and encourage him to do anything he wanted while they would teach him to push himself to defy all odds, defy all social expectations and to live his life to it’s fullest.
Isaac does not disappoint. From HandCycling, to WheelChair Basketball (sometimes referred to as MurderBall due to its intensely aggressive nature), to WakeBoarding, and most recently to Curling, Isaac has managed to not only stay active but to participate in sports and at levels many would think impossible. In fact his skills in WheelChair Basket and WakeBoarding have landed him on both national teams and in the news several times!
Learn more about Isaac's current situation
At the age of 16 Isaac and his parents learned that his scoliosis has become extremely progressive. In less than two years his spine collapsed from a 20 degree scoliotic curvature to over 70 degrees. If the scoliosis is allowed to continue to progress, Isaac’s digestive organs will lose more and more of their vital nerve supply and may shut down completely.
Children's hospital recommended a radically invasive surgery which would open the length of his back and use Harrington Rods (long metal shafts) in an attempt to permanently fuse his lumbar and thoracic spinal vertebra into a motionless but hopefully straightened position. Isaac and his family, having spent years with fellow disabled athletes, are all too familiar with the hazards and potential failures of this dated approach. The recovery is often debilitating in and of itself, the massive amount of scar tissue resulting from tearing the musculature from the spine and reattaching can often lead to lifelong pain and the rods have the potential of breaking. In fact one of Isaac’s basketball coaches suffered with a Harrington Rod failure which caused even more damage.
Knowing the realities of this type of surgical approach, Isaac and his parents began searching for less invasive approaches using modern and cutting edge scientific approaches. After speaking to several physical therapists and chiropractors they were referred to PostureWorks Denver, an Advanced Certified Chiropractic BioPhysics Clinic. That’s where they met me, Dr. Jason Miller. I practice and teach an exceptionally rare and advanced form of spinal and physical rehabilitation named Chiropractic BioPhysics. When I first met Isaac and his mother Debora I educated them on the most effective methods of non surgical correction of scoliosis but explained that even these advanced approaches are minimally effective with scoliotic curves greater than 40 degrees. I too needed to explain that surgery would be Isaac’s best chances at a long and active life, but my recommendation was and is far different than that of Children’s Hospital. I explained a truly cutting edge minimally invasive surgical approach known as Lateral Access Surgery to Isaac and his family.
This 21st Century approach to Scoliosis correction is far more effective and far less invasive as it uses small laparoscopic punctures as opposed to full spinal incisions and an advanced type of surgical hardware called XLIF as opposed to Harrington Rods. This miraculous approach carries with it much less risk and far more benefit. The “only” challenge… there is not a surgeon in Colorado qualified to perform this type of an approach on a scoliosis as advanced as Isaac’s.
I introduced Isaac and his family to Dr. William Smith, one of the pioneers of minimally invasive spinal surgeries who literally travels the world performing and teaching these cutting edge techniques to a select few of the best surgeons across the globe. Dr. Smith, who also serves as the Chief of Neurosurgery at University Medical Center Las Vegas, the Director of Performance Improvement for the Western Regional Center for Brain & Spine Surgery and as the Chairman of American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Cyprus, consulted with myself and Isaac’s family amid several international trips.
Throughout the process I have been working with Isaac’s spine to improve its flexibility and Isaac’s neuromuscular control and stability, while simultaneously obtaining advanced biomechanical imaging so that I and Dr. Smith have as detailed an understanding of Isaac’s spine as possible. The efforts have been more than productive so far! Through the Chiropractic BioPhysics treatment, Isaac has already dramatically improved his strength, range of motion, neuromuscular control and spinal flexibility. After obtaining the advanced imaging Dr. Smith, gave us all some incredible news!
Dr. Smith is not only willing to take Isaac’s case, but believes through the combined approach of Advanced Chiropractic BioPhysics and Lateral Access Surgery Isaac’s spinal fusion can be limited to only the 6 vertebra creating the largest portion of the scoliotic curvature as opposed to the 12 or more vertebrae which would be fused with Harrington Rods if the surgery was performed at Children's Hospital. Isaac’s hospital stay should only be 3 days following the surgery and should be able to return to school inside of 6 weeks as opposed to the potential of a weeks long hospital stay and promise of months of in home recovery time which would be needed with the less effective and more invasive approach available in Colorado.
Where you come in…
Colorado Medicaid is refusing to cover the surgery because it cannot be done in Colorado. So to get this life changing and potentially life saving surgery… Isaac’s family needs to come up with a minimum of $150,000.00! Debora and Gary are getting a second mortgage on their home, their other 4 children and extended family members are contributing as much as they can but we need your help!
Isaac has already needed more than 12 surgeries over the years. He has needed specialized wheelchairs, wheelchair cushions, ongoing physical therapy and other financially challenging attention. The family has done and is doing all they can. Please do all you can as well.