Scoliosis Surgery for Falyn Hester

Hi, my name is Lisa Opie and I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my best friend Ashley's family. Her daughter, Falyn (13), is scheduled for scoliosis corrective spine surgery next month and they could use all of the help they can get. Below is a note from Bryant (Ashley's husband, and Falyn's dad) explaining the details. If you can help out at all, please do, even if it is just to share this link and spread this further it would be appreciated!

~My name is Bryant Hester, and I truly appreciate your attention and time. I am the father of four beautiful children: three daughters and a son. All my daughters have been diagnosed with Arthrochalasia Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which has resulted in ligaments and tendons that lack full rigidity. One of the possible side effects of their condition is scoliosis. Luckily only my youngest daughter, Falyn, has been affected. Falyn recently celebrated her thirteenth birthday with her minutes-older twin sister, Sydney.

Falyn had a sports physical conducted prior to the start of the 2022-2023 school year and no issues with her spine were detected. At a normal screening prior to the winter break lateral curvature was detected. An appointment was made in January with her pediatrician who ordered imaging to determine a diagnosis and to start treatment. Once the diagnosis was made, a referral was made to Texas Children’s Hospital and additional imaging was conducted to gather additional information about Falyn’s growth plates so that the best treatment decision would be made.

We are a typical middle-class, two-income family. My wife, Ashley, also has Arthrochalsia Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and she is the only person covered by medical insurance due to the exorbitant cost of the qualifying plans available to us. All our other medical expenses are self-pay cash transactions. We have applied for—and have been granted—participation in Texas Children’s Hospital’s charity program that has reduced our expected out-of-pocket expenses by 75%. We are extremely grateful for this program.

Falyn’s only treatment option at this point is surgical due to the 63-degree curve in the upper spine and a 54-degree curve in the lower. She is scheduled for posterior spinal fusion on May 12, 2023. Our estimated portion is $33,034.55. We have been fundraising and have raised $2,000.00 and have used some of these funds already to pay for her previous imaging and appointments.

All donations will go directly to pay for Falyn’s surgery and post-surgical follow-ups. Any amount you are willing to contribute is greatly appreciated, and if you are unable to donate currently, please share this with your friends and family. Every bit helps and thank you again for your time.