Our daughter’s X-rays showed a 35-degree spinal curve—frightening, but below the level that required surgery. We tried bracing, physical therapy, and dietary changes to stay below the surgical threshold of 45 to 50 degrees, but it was to no avail.
Within months, the curve reached 77 degrees, a number that causes steady pain and can lead to life-threatening complications. Surgery was a must, and we only knew of one option: spinal fusion, often using a metal rod to fuse the vertebrae. It’s a very successful surgery for many, but at that time it required a long recovery and potential for loss of mobility, both major concerns for our seventh-grader who was still growing and exploring different sports and physical activities.
That’s when an appointment at Shriners Children’s Greenville changed everything. They told us about a spinal tethering procedure that could straighten her spine with no fusion, allowing her to keep growing while retaining full spinal flexibility. The tethering procedure, pioneered at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia, also had a much shorter recovery period, and to our amazement, Audrey was back in middle school after missing only two weeks. Her curve plummeted to 30 degrees, and then continued to straighten as she grew.
There are thousands of families just like ours who have benefited from Shriners Children’s, which not only treats children regardless of families’ ability to pay, but focuses on research that leads to major breakthroughs in treatment for scoliosis, cerebral palsy, limb deficiencies, and other orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions.
That’s one reason Shriners Children’s Greenville was selected for a Charitable Giving Award, one of seven recipients that we honor in this issue. Head to our Charitable Giving section to find out more about them and other winners including Greenville Symphony Orchestra’s Jessica Satava, busy philanthropist Kate Dabbs, and visionary leader Knox White, Greenville’s long-serving mayor.
Our Giving Issue also highlights a variety of ways the people and businesses of Greenville give back to their community. Annie’s House teaches simple sustainability practices, restaurants support causes that matter, and even travel offers the opportunity to help people in need. Artists have found numerous ways to give back, offering their skills to assist Habitat for Humanity, Neighborhood Cancer Connection, and—as we found in our artist roundtable discussion— their fellow artists.
Eight years after her scoliosis journey began, our daughter rang the bell at Shriners Children’s Greenville, signaling the end of her treatment. She’s a college graduate who loves hiking and yoga, and we’ll always be grateful for the team that helped her get there. Let’s celebrate all of those who use their skills, talents, and generosity to lift up our entire community.
