Jemma’s Scoliosis Journey

First, thank you for caring so much about Jemma and her life-changing severe scoliosis journey. Your love means the world to both of us! I’m creating this fundraiser since I was asked by several of you how you can help, so a friend and a family member helped me create this.

As most of you know, Jemma is scheduled to have a major Fusion and Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) hybrid surgery for her severe scoliosis on 12/12/2025 in NYC with one of the best pediatric spine surgeons in the country. Jemma and I felt like this was the best option after consulting with other surgeons at Children’s Milwaukee and Mayo Rochester. We plan to be in NYC from 12/10-12/23.

The hybrid surgery will allow Jemma to retain her mobility in the lumbar part of her spine, so she can continue to play sports like volleyball, softball, snowboarding, and hopefully dance again in high school. Since her diagnosis, she’s had to give up cheer and tumbling. Unfortunately, VBT is still considered an “experimental” procedure and most insurances do not cover it so I’ve already had to sign the paperwork for a $15,000 out-of-pocket responsibility. We’ll also have travel costs, follow-up visits every 6–12 months, and things she’ll need for comfort and recovery. As a single parent, I am the sole carrier of insurance and the only provider for all expenses, and I will also need to take unpaid time off from work.

Any help we receive will go toward:

    •    ✈️ Travel, lodging, transportation, and meal expenses for surgery and follow-up visits

    •    Out-of-pocket medical costs

    •    Items from Amazon to help with her stay and recovery

    •    And helping bring Christmas to Jemma, since she’ll miss most of the holiday season while recovering

Before surgery, I’m taking her to The Rink at Rockefeller Center — a little wish of hers — to make this experience a little brighter.

If you’d like to support us — through a donation, purchasing something from her wishlist (coming soon), giving her a gift card, or even sending a Christmas card (more details to come) — it would mean the world to us. Your kindness will help make a difficult time a little easier and remind Jemma how loved she is. Thank you! Jessi and Jemma

More about Scoliosis:

(Please educate yourself and monitor your children and check for symptoms every 6 months!)

Scoliosis is a side-to-side curve of the spine. It's most often diagnosed after age 10 or in the early teen years. The spine can curve to either side and in different parts of the back. Experts don't know the cause of most childhood scoliosis.

Most scoliosis is mild. But some curves get worse as children grow. If the curve gets very bad, scoliosis can cause pain and breathing problems. A bad curve of the spine can push on the lungs and make it hard to breathe.

Symptoms of scoliosis may include:

• Change in posture.

• Shoulders that aren't even.

• One shoulder blade that looks bigger than the other.

• Waist that isn't even.

• One hip higher than the other.

• One side of the rib cage pushing forward.

• One side of the back poking out when bending forward.

More about Fusion:

Spinal fusion, also known as spondylodesis, is a surgical procedure that permanently joins two or more vertebrae in the spine, preventing movement between them. The goal is to correct spinal curvature, stabilize the spine, and prevent further curvature. It's the most common surgical treatment for severe scoliosis (a curve of 45 degrees or more) in adolescents.

More about VBT:

Vertebral body tethering (VBT) is a surgical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis in growing children whose scoliosis continues to progress. The treatment was approved by the FDA in August 2019.

This “growth modulation” treatment uses anchors and an attached flexible cord to guide the spine into an upright alignment as a child grows. Surgeons attach metal anchors to the vertebrae on the side of the spine that curves outward. A flexible cord, called a tether, is connected to these anchors and placed under tension.

The anchors and tether will remain attached to the child’s spine permanently unless problems develop. Compared to spinal fusion surgery, vertebral body tethering allows for greater spine mobility and flexibility. As the name implies, after spinal fusion surgery, the affected vertebrae fuse into solid bone. This section of the spine will not bend or grow beyond its height at the time of surgery.