Megan's VBT surgery
Donation protected
Thank you for taking the time to read about our cause, I am Laura Im raising money for Megan who is my 10 year old daughter. she was diagnosed with scoliosis at 6 years old with a 50 degree curve, over the last year or so it has progressed to 62 degrees. For a 10 year old that is quite a significant curve and means she will have to have surgery to straighten her spine.
At the moment Megan is wearing a boston brace 23 hours a day, she hates it, it is a constant battle to get her to wear it, but we try in desperation that it will hold her curve until she stops growing. If her curve progresses she will have to have growth rods inserted into her spine and have them extended every 6 months until she has stopped growing. When she has stopped growing she will have to have her spine fused, meaning she will lose alot of her flexibility and most likely not be able to continue with things that she loves such as gymnastics. If her Brace holds her curve then she will still have the spinal fusion but when she stops growing, at the moment her consultants aren't convinced the brace will hold it through a growth spurt.
A while ago I came across a Surgery called VBT vertabral body tethering which is a fairly new type of surgery in scoliosis that is producing some amazing results, the surgery is best done on younger patients while their skeleton is fairly immature and those with a curve under 70 degrees and a immiture skelton are excellent candidates for it. The surgery means those who have it will maintain their flexibility, can have the surgery at a younger age and avoid having multiple surgeries. It also has a quicker recovery period. So why are we fundrasing, well up until recently this surgery was offered in the UK, but just as we were going through the referral period, all surgeries were stopped and we were told it was down to codes, meaning there is no more VBT in the UK. So now our only option is to seek this surgery abroad.
Currently there is a Shriners hospital in Philedelphia that will offer the surgery to people who fit the criteria, even international patients, at no cost. Which providing Megan is a candidate will be amazing, but we have to get her there, and be able to stay in Philedelphia for possibly 6 weeks and then be able to return if there are any issues and for follow ups every year. This cost is obviously quite alot and unfortunately as we have two other children, more than we can afford so we are trying to raise as much as possible to get us there.
If we happen to raise more than what we require, that money will be donated to Shriners hospital and also to another go fund me page helping to raise money for other children in the same situation as ours.
We need to raise as much money as quickly as possible as any growth spurt could knock Megan over the 70 degree cut off and could prevent her from being a candidate.
This means so much to us because our children are our entire world, we would move heaven and earth to make sure they have everything they need, and Megan needs this without it she will have to spend her teenage years in a brace that makes her angry and depressed and then have to have a surgery that will force her to give up gymnastics the one thing in life that she loves.
We would be eternally grateful to anyone who donates and helps us get our baby the treatment that she needs.
At the moment Megan is wearing a boston brace 23 hours a day, she hates it, it is a constant battle to get her to wear it, but we try in desperation that it will hold her curve until she stops growing. If her curve progresses she will have to have growth rods inserted into her spine and have them extended every 6 months until she has stopped growing. When she has stopped growing she will have to have her spine fused, meaning she will lose alot of her flexibility and most likely not be able to continue with things that she loves such as gymnastics. If her Brace holds her curve then she will still have the spinal fusion but when she stops growing, at the moment her consultants aren't convinced the brace will hold it through a growth spurt.
A while ago I came across a Surgery called VBT vertabral body tethering which is a fairly new type of surgery in scoliosis that is producing some amazing results, the surgery is best done on younger patients while their skeleton is fairly immature and those with a curve under 70 degrees and a immiture skelton are excellent candidates for it. The surgery means those who have it will maintain their flexibility, can have the surgery at a younger age and avoid having multiple surgeries. It also has a quicker recovery period. So why are we fundrasing, well up until recently this surgery was offered in the UK, but just as we were going through the referral period, all surgeries were stopped and we were told it was down to codes, meaning there is no more VBT in the UK. So now our only option is to seek this surgery abroad.
Currently there is a Shriners hospital in Philedelphia that will offer the surgery to people who fit the criteria, even international patients, at no cost. Which providing Megan is a candidate will be amazing, but we have to get her there, and be able to stay in Philedelphia for possibly 6 weeks and then be able to return if there are any issues and for follow ups every year. This cost is obviously quite alot and unfortunately as we have two other children, more than we can afford so we are trying to raise as much as possible to get us there.
If we happen to raise more than what we require, that money will be donated to Shriners hospital and also to another go fund me page helping to raise money for other children in the same situation as ours.
We need to raise as much money as quickly as possible as any growth spurt could knock Megan over the 70 degree cut off and could prevent her from being a candidate.
This means so much to us because our children are our entire world, we would move heaven and earth to make sure they have everything they need, and Megan needs this without it she will have to spend her teenage years in a brace that makes her angry and depressed and then have to have a surgery that will force her to give up gymnastics the one thing in life that she loves.
We would be eternally grateful to anyone who donates and helps us get our baby the treatment that she needs.
Organizer
Laura Louise
Organizer