Support for Aidan (Spine Surgery)

For those who know Aidan, he is the most compassionate, selfless, caring individual. Whether its encouraging others, creating GoFundMe pages for family, or sending "get well" cards to racing teammates, he's always there. At this time, it's Aidan who needs your immediate help.

 

18 months ago, Aidan was diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; which means his spine has curved and twisted as he's grown. Without corrective measures, the twisted curve gets worse and is eventually debilitating; and will impair heart and lung functions. Since Aidan's diagnosis a year and a half ago he has worn a custom-fit day and night back brace 21+ hrs a day, and in Schroth physical therapy every day. We were optimistic that this non-invasive approach for the next 4 years would be as far as we needed to go. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case.

 

Aidan's September 2021 check up, X-rays and MRI, revealed that his scoliosis progressed significantly over the last 6 months, and is now severe. Over time Aidan began experiencing pain and weakness in his back; and became fatigued much quicker than normal. Standard treatment is spinal fusion. However, this would have limited his flexibility and possibly stopped him from participating in many activities, especially racing. After meeting with several specialists across the country, it was determined that the right course of action was a spine surgery to release the disks, de-rotate his spine, and stabilize it. This would allow Aidan to retain all flexibility and continue normal spine, rib and organ growth!

 

UPDATE: We left for New Jersey November 7th to complete remaining pre-op work. Aidan underwent a very long and complex spinal surgery on November 15th. The surgery took place at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. Aidan exceeded all expectations. His courage is remarkable. Aidan's positive attitude and determination allowed him to progress quickly, and he was released from Pediatric ICU early! We spent an additional week near the hospital to allow him time to recover, and be close his surgeons for check ups. Aidan continued his PT at the hotel by walking the halls and stairs several times a day.  Again, his hard worked paid off and he was released to come home almost a week early! He is so happy to be home. 

 

Aidan has received phone calls, get well cards, letters of encouragement, and care packages throughout his time in NJ.  They have made a world of difference. Aidan plans on working hard in PT and has his sites set on being with friends and getting back on the race track in time for the 2022 season opener. Please continue sending cards and care packages to 7809 Harbor Dr, Raleigh, NC 27615. Or, you can call him directly to wish him well.

 

Estimates from the hospital and surgical team have reached $200,000. After insurance pays their part, the latest estimate that we will be responsible for is now $60,000. Additionally, the 3 weeks of travel, meals, and hotel expenses came out to $4,000.
 
Please consider helping us with costs of this difficult, but much needed spine surgery for Aidan. Any amount helps. Please also share with your network. Thank you in advance.
 

You can learn more about Aidan on his racing website, www.az38racing.com or facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AZ38Racing.

 

Thank you all for your support,

Jody and Heather Zschiedrich

(Aidan's parents)

Learn more about Aidan's doctors and the life changing procedure he had at https://spineandscoliosis.com/anterior-scoliosis-correction-asc/

Details about Aidan's surgery:
Monday, November 15th the surgeons made an 8” incision along his side, deflated his right lung, dissected the right side of his diaphragm, released the disks in his spine with a scalpel, and untwisted his spine. Then, they drilled 2” long titanium screws through every one of vertebrae down to L1, and fastened 4 high-strength cords across the screws to keep it taut. Finally, they stitched his diaphragm back up, re-inflated his lung, and closed the incision site. Lastly they inserted a drainage tube about 4” into his side through a second incision site to help prevent infection during healing.

Since the surgery:
- within 24hrs, my warrior demanded he wanted out the bed; and he walked his first steps with PT
- within 48hrs, he was walking the PICU halls and eating regular food
- within 72hrs, he was handing out his racing hero cards to the other kids in the PICU to chear them up
- within 4 days, he put his star on the map and walked out of the hospital on his own
- within 6 days, he was walking the full length of a hotel (there and back) and WALKING up and down 3 flights of stairs at the hotel multiple times to get his strength back.
- 7 days after surgery, Aidan's had a check up with his surgeons. They removed the bandages, did a final chest X-ray, and released him to leave NJ. He has amazed his doctors with his perseverance and progress. 

It’s not been without pain…he’s definitely needed the narcotics, anti-muscle spam meds, and anti-inflammatory meds throughout.

It’s not been without nausea and vomiting…he’s absolutely needed the phenergan.

But at no point has he backed down. At no point has he asked to go slower. At no point has he lowered the bar of his goals.
We can’t say enough about Aidan and his perseverance. We can’t say enough about his surgical team at the Institute for Spine and Scoliosis. We can’t say enough about his PICU nursing staff, hospitalists, physical therapists, respiratory specialists, anesthesiologists, and the child life services team at St. Peters University Hospital. We can’t say enough about the entire hotel staff at the Residence Inn in Woodbridge where we’ve been living for over 3 weeks in our home away from home. And we certainly can’t say enough about the remarkable people who are supporting him...YOU!!! 

Keep the thoughts and prayers coming. Thank you!