Devon's Scoliosis Post-Op Care

Edit: in the recovery room with him right now. Everything went fine. He’s still asleep though. As mentioned, we’re keeping the campaign open for the apparent “just in case” and surprise scenarios and needs that could pop up once we get him home. His comfort will be tantamount due to the pain the procedure can produce, pain that can’t be directly managed with meds in someone his age. Thank you for all the support. You all are amazing.

Original story as follows;

Last July, during a routine check up, it was discovered my eldest son, Devon (13) had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis .


It has since worsened since this first x-ray.

It was determined that surgery was needed, with an average recovery period of up to six weeks.

However, things have not gone to plan, and the surgery that was planned for late-July of 2018 has been moved up to the quite-near date of April 27th of 2018 - due to the program offering vertebral body tethering at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center being ended, and the team trying to get all scheduled surgeries in before the doors close. We could’ve been ready for July, but we’re scrambling for such a move up.

As I’m a freelance illustrator, and primary breadwinner, my family lives paycheck to paycheck - paychecks that don’t necessarily come regularly. Sometimes I get great work, lots of work, and a cushion is made. Sometimes I don’t. Feast or famine, quite often.

Like many in my line of work, one emergency, one unexpected event can mean insurmountable financial difficulty.

While this situation isn’t that dire, it is an unexpected event. And while we pull strings and call in favors and the like (and I scramble to sell a lot of original art I have on hand), we still are reaching out for some help.

While we luckily have health insurance to cover the cost of the surgery itself, there are things that are not covered. Things like a new mattress for Devon’s bed. His is old, and was used when he got it, but he’ll most likely need something much more comfortable. We'll also get him some other comfort items as needed (such as a recliner or other chair that is not an old, stiff, office or kitchen chair, like most of the chairs we have). As he’ll be home from school, and won’t be getting out and about much (and may not even be able to get around the house much at first - never mind upstairs to his bedroom), we’d like to get him some books, video games, movies, etc.

We just need to get through the initial recovery, and make Devon’s time laid up as pleasant as possible - something that’ll be hard to do in the short term with a surgery date so soon.

Thanks so much for your time, and your help.

For more information on the procedure: https://www.scoliosisassociates.com/treatments/non-fusion-corrective-surgery/