My Parents' Story

The following is am article my parents wrote about what having a daughter with scoliosis is like.

The day we brought Kate home from the orthopedist was one we will never forget. Kate was in tears before long because the Boston brace she as wearing was so uncomfortable. My mother in law who was visiting at the time was mad at us for -- in her view -- making Kate suffer. We felt we made the right decision but doubt crept up on us as Kate's discomfort continued, compounded by feelings of guilt.

We had done a substantial amount of research before moving ahead with the brace, tracking down and pouring over articles in medical journals analyzing the effectiveness of bracing and speaking with friends and acquaintances in the medical community.  And because my first cousin was diagnosed with scoliosis and braced when we were growing up, I had some familiarity with the experience.  But as all the parents out there will attest, there is a different sort or pain and fear that one feels when your own child is suffering.

Adjusting to the brace was by no means an overnight process.  But in part because Kate was so young and so understanding when this journey started, the most acute discomfort dissipated within days.  To say Kate was a good sport would be a gross understatement; she was amazing during the process.  I have heard from parents and doctors about children complaining incessantly and taking of the brace as soon as they are out of the watchful eyes of their parents.  Not so with Kate.

Unfortunately, bracing is not 100 percent effective, even for model patients.  Fear of this fact still lingers in my mind.  But after a decade in the brace, Kate can now wear clothes that fit her and, more importantly, shows no signs of having a curve that is more severe than before she began wearing the brace.

I hope that reading about my parents' perspective on scoliosis helps you to gain a deeper understanding on what being a parent of someone with scoliosis is like...whenever someone you love may be struggling, it is hard to watch, but it's always important to remember we're bent, not broken! :)