Help Amanda in Her Fight with Scoliosis with a Custom Brace

"Hello, I’m reaching out to ask for your support in helping my daughter, Amanda, who was diagnosed with scoliosis 20 yrs ago. It was so bad she had to have steel rods put into her back. The rods after a yr (too soon to heal properly) had to be removed. After years of doctor visits and tests, we were basically told nothing can be done to help. I could not accept that there was no help.

I came across a website with a chiropractor in Kelowna who said he deals with Scoliosis, he listened as we told him our story and amazingly he said he would try to help. He helped us emotionally and financially. Amanda for the last year or more has been going 3x a week. It’s a slow process, since the rods had been removed from her back due to infection her spine has slowly twisted more and more. We have learned that she now needs a special brace to help manage her condition and prevent it from worsening, doing nothing would eventually be fatal.

Unfortunately, the cost of the brace is a financial challenge for us, and we’re hoping to raise the necessary funds to ensure she receives this important treatment. This brace will help her lead a more active and healthy life, and with your generosity, we can make this possible for her. Any contribution, no matter how small, will be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your kindness and support during this difficult time."

Please read Amanda Story

My name is Amanda I am a 37 year old mother of a 16 year-old boy, who is my world. Since I was 12, I've known nothing but pain as part of my daily life.

I have scoliosis and degenerative bone disease and also need hip replacements.

WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS - Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. The cause of most scoliosis is not known. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some curves worsen as children grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling. An especially serious spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.

I have arthritis in my back that is rapidly worsening and noticeably, causing more pain almost daily. I've had 13 back operations, have had steel rods in my back for about a year before they were removed due to a deadly infection. The infection was from the rods in my back. I spent almost a year in Vancouver Children's Hospital from the age of 12 to 13 getting operation after operation, having parts of my rip repeatedly removed, scraping away, infected bone and at times fighting just to survive.

(I’ve had 13 back operations because I had an infection they could not control as it turned out. The bacteria was on the rods placed in my back, not on the skin, so no antibiotic could help the infection. I finally had to have the rods removed before I was fully healed and my back was straightened.)

I had to learn how to walk again and to this day I suffered from constant pain all over my body. I had to stop working quite some time ago, I can't sit or stand for much length of time, walking even a short distance I cannot do because of the pain it causes. Most of my daily activities are affected by the pain.

I've been seeing a chiropractor three times a week, thanks to an amazing family practice that had offered to help at a great discounted price! I find it as helped some, but I am now at a point where if I want to continue with my progress and to have any sort of hope for a better life and more quality time with my son, less pain, I desperately need a custom brace! This will give me a chance to experience less pain, be straighter, stronger, and to keep going in the direction of finally for once feel like things will only get better instead of worse!

I've spent the last few years going to Chiro appointments, getting hooked up and strapped down to traction tables, being adjusted… To get to this point!

I can't describe what getting this brace will mean for me!

This brace I am told will help to carry-on with the slow process of straightening my spine as without any help it will slowly move toward all my organs.

I have other problems with my body as well. They have medical names, but I am unable to say or spell them. Mentally I suffer emotionally many days if not all I feel depressed, anxious, paranoid, scared, lonely, sad, and suicidal. I'm depressed about living in pain every day and not being able to live a normal life, and just about things I need to do and figure out how I'm gonna do them, I'm unable to visit or be with friends most of the time because of my inability to participate in activities with them also because they can't relate to how I'm feeling.

Unfortunately, the cost of the brace is a financial challenge for us, and we’re hoping to raise the necessary funds to ensure she receives this important treatment. This brace will help her lead a more active and healthy life, and with your generosity, we can make this possible for her. Any contribution, no matter how small, will be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your kindness and support during this difficult time."