Alyssa, Pediatric Scoliosis Patient
Christi Green remembers the day her daughter, Alyssa, was diagnosed with scoliosis well. She says it was “in November 2016, during a yearly checkup. Alyssa’s pediatrician visually noticed a curve in her spine that was not there the previous year. Initial X-rays showed two, 25-degree curves.” She wore a customized back brace at night in hopes of stopping the curves from getting worse. Unfortunately, the curve continued to worsen and we began to discuss surgery.
“We came to Savannah to meet Dr. Evan Siegall, who is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and we agreed to have the operation at Memorial Health. He thought surgery would be a good option,” says Green. By the time surgery was scheduled in June 2019, her curves were 46 and 45 degrees. Dr. Siegall did a spinal fusion of her L3 and T3. She “grew” 1 inch the week we were in the hospital just from straightening her back!
Before surgery, Alyssa had completed her freshman year of high school and had been a spirit cheerleader (no tumbling) and a sprinter for her track team. Six weeks after her surgery, she was able to participate in cheer camp for her upcoming sophomore season. As her senior year approaches, Alyssa continues to participate in cheer as a flyer and in track as a sprinter. Her mom says she has some restraints in stretching due to her back not being able to bend except at the waist. She has had to learn how to run with a different form for track. Alyssa does sleep better at night and is still able to ride roller coasters.
“If I had to give any advice to other parents, it would be to make sure your child has yearly checkups and have your pediatrician check the spine,” said Green. “While this was a scary procedure, we don’t regret having it. Her young age made recovery much quicker and easier.”
“All the staff from pre-op to discharge were wonderful. We were kept well informed throughout the entire six hours of surgery. The nurses on the pediatric unit were very attentive for the entire five days we were there,” she says. “The staff treated us like family and not just another patient.”
