Scoliosis Medical Assistance for Siena

Hello friends, my name is Sarah Howard. We would be grateful if you would take a few minutes to read this Go Fund Me post.

Two years ago our 15 year-old daughter, Siena, was diagnosed with severe scoliosis. Many of you have been a huge support to Siena and our family through prayer, friendship and financial assistance - thank you. We absolutely have needed your support throughout these last two years.

Every 3 to 4 months we travel with Siena to receive 6 to 7 days of intensive scoliosis treatment from Dr. Daniel Hersh and Dr. Kaila Hersh in Connecticut. Each time Siena receives intensive treatment is it $3,000, plus accommodations, which is about $1000. Additionally, Siena needs to see two physical therapists, a massage therapist and a chiropractor for treatment when she is NOT at her intensive scoliosis treatment in CT. We rotate which practitioners she sees each week, but typically she sees two of the four different practitioners a week. Siena's medical needs require a specific type of treatment and unfortunately, none of the specialists she sees are covered by insurance. It can be overwhelming at times to think about having to raise $9,000 to $12,000 every year for our daughter. I choose to take it “one treatment at a time” and I am happy to say that God has always provided a way for Siena to receive her treatment. 

Siena's next round of treatment is at the end of October 2023 and we still need a bit more to get her what she needs for treatment.

***You will see the amount we have raised already, but that entire amount was spent for her treatment in August 2023 - that does not reflect the true amount we have now set aside in our bank account of $2000, which was donated privately to us.  Instead of creating a new Go Fund Me since her next treatment is a month early, I have chosen to save myself some time and edit this Go Fund Me and make it current to what we will need for October’s treatment, which is another $2,000.***

 We first ask you to support our family, especially Siena, through prayer. This is a marathon and an exhausting journey for our family - Josh and I need strength to encourage and keep Siena accountable to wearing her brace 22 hours a day on the tightest setting possible. 

 We have been exceedingly blessed by the kindness of friends, family and even strangers these past two years and we humbly ask you to consider supporting Siena through prayer and financial assistance. If you are unable to assist financially, please remember that your prayers are just as important.

While progress has been slow, I am thankful to report that Siena's spine has slightly de-rotated and her worst scoliosis curve has decreased from 90 degrees to about 77 degrees. Keep in mind that scoliosis is considered "significant" at 25-30 degrees - anything 45-50 degrees is considered "severe" and Siena's scoliosis far exceeds the "severe" category. We are, however, encouraged and hopeful because the Hershes, Siena's scoliosis specialist chiropractors, have successfully treated patients with Siena's same situation - I have seen the patient testimonies and the X-rays that display clear decreases in the scoliosis curves of their patients. The Hershes are dedicated to helping their patients, including Siena, avoid spinal fusion surgery.

A significant time is needed to decrease spinal curves and rotations and sometimes throughout this process, we are discouraged, despondent and anxious. The first year of Siena's treatment was particularly difficult because she received her diagnosis immediately following a very difficult situation our family experienced - receiving a severe scoliosis diagnosis felt like another hard punch to our family. Processing the intense plan for Siena's treatment, being informed of the treatment costs and the reality that her scoliosis can cause her ribs to crush her internal organs and deform her body if her scoliosis continued to progress completely overwhelmed us. Thankfully, in the last year, Siena has been able to execute her daily exercises, sit in her therapy chair at home twice a day and wear her brace 20 plus hours a day. Yes, she has to sleep with her brace on and it has interfered with her sleep. The poor kid has not slept well in two years.

Siena still has a long journey ahead of her, but we are now hopeful and encouraged. She will most likely never have a straight spine, but she can lead a normal and healthy life with a curve in the 30s degree range. Miraculously, she does not experience any pain.

If you or someone you know has scoliosis, please click on the link below and contact the Hershes, even if their curvature degree is low. For kids especially, puberty can make scoliosis curves quickly and significantly increase. The same is true when women go through menopause. The Hershes successfully use the CLEAR method to treat scoliosis and are wonderful people and are loved by their patients. We will not take Siena anywhere else unless it is necessary to do so. 

https://scoliosiscorrectioncenter.com/contact/

Thank you for taking the time to read this and please share this GFM.

Peace, God bless you and cheers!

Sarah, Siena, Joshua, Elijah, Lúcia, and Tova