Watching Addison's Back
Donation protected
My daughter Addison was born with congenital scoliosis, among other more minor conditions. Her spine has developed compensatory curvature over time an attempt to seek balance, but she now has two separate 80-degree curves that are getting worse. As a result, her trunk is much shorter than normal and both her lungs and stomach are being compressed. After many years of visits to the pediatric orthopedists here in Indianapolis, we were referred to Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis. There, she will undergo 6 weeks of halo gravity traction to prepare her spine for a subsequent fusion surgery.
If all goes according to plan, Addison may grow by as much as 3-4 inches in less than two months. Her aerobic capacity will increase, her appetite should likewise improve, and her reflux may be eliminated as well. She should see a reduction in pain, which she says is constantly at around a 7 on a 10-point scale. Then there are things like getting her hips and shoulders more symmetrical and solving some issues with her gait and posture. This truly will be a life-altering series of procedures.
To be honest, I hesitated to put this fundraiser together in the first place. But my hope was that we could use it not just for medical bills that will come up, but to buy books, games, and other supplies for Addison's stay than can then be donated to Shriners. Ideally, we'd even be able to donate some money back to the hospital. We've only spent a short time there, but they've already had an impact on us and we'd like to be able to give back in whatever way we can. Because Addison is a voracious reader, she's going to churn through dozens of books that we can then leave there at the hospital. And we all know how much entertainment is needed in such a boring city (that's a joke, folks).
In any case, we're just thankful for the love and support of so many friends and family, even if this thing never generates a dime.
If all goes according to plan, Addison may grow by as much as 3-4 inches in less than two months. Her aerobic capacity will increase, her appetite should likewise improve, and her reflux may be eliminated as well. She should see a reduction in pain, which she says is constantly at around a 7 on a 10-point scale. Then there are things like getting her hips and shoulders more symmetrical and solving some issues with her gait and posture. This truly will be a life-altering series of procedures.
To be honest, I hesitated to put this fundraiser together in the first place. But my hope was that we could use it not just for medical bills that will come up, but to buy books, games, and other supplies for Addison's stay than can then be donated to Shriners. Ideally, we'd even be able to donate some money back to the hospital. We've only spent a short time there, but they've already had an impact on us and we'd like to be able to give back in whatever way we can. Because Addison is a voracious reader, she's going to churn through dozens of books that we can then leave there at the hospital. And we all know how much entertainment is needed in such a boring city (that's a joke, folks).
In any case, we're just thankful for the love and support of so many friends and family, even if this thing never generates a dime.
Fundraising team (2)
Evan Altman
Organizer
Brownsburg, IN
Sarah Altman
Team member
