Bella's Surgery Is January 10th!

***Update***

What a journey this has been. This has been a truly humbling experience. I want to thank each and everyone of you for your support. Having a child with a chronic illness has proven to be truly challenging. The Lord has taught me so many things, some easier than others. We did not meet our financial goals on time to travel to Florida, God had other plans. I still believe that scoliosis and other musculoskeletal issues should be handled with care and there should be careful consideration before partaking on the surgical route. It is very difficult to go the non-surgical route when many things are not covered by insurance. Your help allowed us to manage Bella's pain and wellness throughout this past year.

We had a regular visit with her Ortho back in July or August and her new x-rays showed her curve had progressed to 70 in the thoracic region and 75 in the lumbar. We were trying to save up the money it took to go to Florida, but this news was not easy to stomach. Bella's lung function was slightly impaired.

With much, much, prayer and consideration we have decided to have the surgery. It is set for January 10th, which is tomorrow.

I am wearing my sackcloth and ashes and praying hard for good results. I know HE IS ABLE. I appreciate ALL of your prayers and support, from the depths of my soul. The money donated allowed Bella to keep seeing the PT, and Chiropractor. It allowed for all the hundreds maybe even thousands of miles to travel from appointment to appointment. Your support will allow me to be able to be off of work for a month, or more, to care for Bella. I am truly humbled and will keep updating you all.

Love and appreciation,

Jessica

Hi! I am Jessica, Bella's mom. Over a year ago, I noticed Bella's right shoulder was higher than her left shoulder. Like most parents, I did not overthink it. I am a Medical Massage Therapist, and I told her to watch her posture! Then what seemed overnight she hit a growth spurt. Since then, I have been studying non-stop and hope to help educate other parents about scoliosis.

During her growth spurt, her curve increased tremendously. Bella has a curvature of 60 degrees thoracic and 59 degrees lumbar. Schools used to check for scoliosis right at puberty, but due to covid, not only did that not happen, but we missed her primary care appointment because the office had shut down during the pandemic. Little did I know it would take almost three months to get her in with a new primary care physician.

I immediately got her to our hometown chiropractor for physical therapy, which insurance did not cover. We had X-rays and scans done, and I got her on the schedule with multiple orthopaedists. Month after month, the news was the same. Bella needs surgery. The doctors want to fuse T4-L4. That is half of her spine! I hit my knees in prayer. What quality of life would she have? Will she be able to dance anymore? How would her spine degenerate after fusing that many discs? I realize that this surgery is an option and many kids go through it yearly. The difference is it is 12 vertebrae. I started to research biological journals, institutes and universities around the world. There are other treatments. I found The Clear Institute. I began to watch the videos and message the patients who had received this treatment. There was hope! Others had been precisely where we were.

I have spoken with Doctor Tony Nalda at The Scoliosis Reduction Center in Celebration, Florida. This man and his whole staff are amazing. He spent an hour and a half on the phone consulting with me. He was very open and honest. The treatment program is 10 days for 8 hours a day of very specific work. In the 10 days, most patients see a 20 percent curvature reduction, and some see more! He has been providing this treatment for over 20 years, and hundreds of people travel to seek treatment! Many kids avoid surgery and can revisit to reduce the curve further. The price for treatment is around 9,000 dollars, and the brace is almost 5,000 dollars. For the skeptics, there is another point to be considered. Less curvature would mean fewer discs would have to be fused. This surgery is a lifelong commitment, and I would not feel like I had done everything I could if we did not try reduction first. I am praying for all the help I can get. Insurance does not cover this treatment, and I have already spent thousands of dollars out of pocket. This treatment will be a way for Bella to help others as well. As a Medical Massage Therapist, I see many people wanting to avoid surgery, and many do! Exercise, proper posture, and healthy habits are essential! Bella wants to be a Massage Therapist when she is of age. I believe God has a plan for our family. This is in His hands. I hope and pray we can help others avoid chronic pain in the future and share our success story!