Team Siena: A severe scoliosis journey

Siena is a beautiful, active, smart 13 year old girl. To look at her you would never know the daily pain and battle she is in front of. Something that will effect her for the rest of her life. A few years ago on a routine wellness check her life and mine was about to be completely altered. We found out she had stage 2 scoliosis.

At the time she was immediately sent for her first of many scans to determine how much of a curve she had. The results at the time were a 25 degree curve. Next step was to go to a specialist who would send her for her first MRI. After that we went back to the doctor a couple weeks later for her fitting of a brace that she was required to wear 12 hours a day, sleeping in it as well. She got to choose a wrap for her brace so she decided on an island theme. That was pretty fitting due to the fact we live in Florida. Problem was, we live in Florida and to have to wear a brace around her body, over her clothes in Florida heat was pretty uncomfortable as you can imagine. She took it off to swim but all play she had to wear it.

As a (at the time) 10 year old going into school with a brace proved to also be challenging. All I have to say is kids can be pretty cruel about things like this. She was picked on pretty bad but always kept a smile on her face. She would cry at home asking me ‘Why did God give me this mommy? I love God why do I have to do this?’ The only reply that I still use to this day is that because she is so special and strong, God knew she could handle it to be an example of strength for other kids.

She wore the brace and it helped a little but we could not stop what was about to happen, Covid. Everything in that time period was about to accelerate the issue at hand. Doctors’ offices had limited slots for children like her because they needed to keep their appointments low. I called multiple times for appointments but never got a call back. So finally last year I got her back into the doctor’s office for yet another round of X-rays, scans and news. As anticipated knowing how her shoulder got more prominent lifting off her back as did the arch when she bent over got higher and higher by the month her condition in fact worsened. She was now at a 55 degree curve which is a severe level of her condition. Surgery is inevitable. The hardest news of our lives. Now we are scheduled for a final pre-surgery MRI at the end of this month which will ultimately be the scans that determine when she will enter the surgery phase.

Siena is a smart, funny, happy girl who inspires so many daily she even donated her hair twice to wigs for kids. She attends church on Sundays, not because she is forced to go but because she loves to go. She loves to play, run, do art, she wanted to do gymnastics which she will not be able to pursue due the surgery, she loves to sing, dance, play with her friends and so much more. She helps our neighbor who has become one of her besties who lost his legs in a motorcycle accident. She runs errands with him, opens doors and stands up for what is right. She speaks her mind and has the biggest heart on the planet. As the only parent that Siena has, this is probably the most humbling letter I have ever had to write. I don’t get child support and I am homeschooling her and her brother currently (he will be returning to school so he can get active in football and basketball for his upcoming sophomore year). Depending on her date of surgery will determine her return to school. When she does have the surgery she will need a better sleeping situation, plus around the clock care.

She will need to be in the hospital for a minimum of 3 days. After that, from what her doctors said was she will be pretty medicated for the first month and she will need physical therapy from there. They will slowly take her medication down and her full recovery timeline will be six months.

I can’t even imagine being 13 years old, going under the knife to have an erector set put in her spine and having to literally slow her whole life down for six months is absolutely devastating. She is going to need to be cared for around the clock and I am the only option to do that, meanwhile trying to keep the bills paid. That is why I am doing this. I really did not want a handout, but I am at a loss of what else to do. Caring for her and her brother is my number one priority.

Our family lives 1200 miles away so unfortunately, we are not going to have the option of others to take shifts. She is going to need physical therapy, more scans, X-rays and more in the months ahead. Sustaining all of this on a waitress salary and schedule is not an easy task. She desperately needs a new bed to help her back as well. She is a very inspiring little girl who is probably the strongest spirited soul I know. She is highly loved for her spirit. So as much as I hate to ask, any help you can possibly do to help us would be greatly appreciated. I am just trying to be the best mom I can be but I am also only one person with 24 hours in a day. Although her medical bills will be taken care of her daily care and living situations we do need help with. We need a team to help us on her journey. As a mother I wish I could take this condition away, take her pain away do the surgery for her. The best I am capable of is being by her side every step of the way. That is why I need your help. The bills will pile up and the stress of thinking of everything that is ahead for her on top of everyday responsibilities is overwhelming. I would like to thank you for reading our story and any help you do.

God Bless