June is National Scoliosis Month!

[PatnErinsMum]

My dd, Girlie, has congenital scoliosis. That means she was born with it. On Thursday, she will have her third expansion surgery of the VEPTR (www.veptr.com) rods that were placed in her back 3 years ago. These expansions will continue until she reaches physical maturity - which for a girl is generally somewhere between 14 and 16 years of age. My Girlie is 6. The expansions are typically done every 4-6 months as the child grows. She is unusual in that it has been 2 years since her last expansion, but I don't see it being 2 years till the next one - not the way she is growing!

The National Scoliosis Foundation (http://www.scoliosis.org/) has tons of information on diagnosing, treatments, etc.

Please keep Girlie in your thoughts this week.

[Kim - Up North Mommy]

Oh my gosh! How does she handle these surgeries? Are they difficult on her? I will certainly be praying for Girlie.

[PatnErinsMum]

Thanks for the prayers Kim!

She handles them like the trooper she is. And they are difficult in the sense that you have skin, bone and muscle moving. That and the child refuses to take any type of medication unless it comes in "gummi" form - so trying to get her to take even Tylenol is a fight. So once we leave the hospital and the iv Morphine she pretty much goes it pain med free unless I can slip it by her - which happens 1 time out of 5. She is good at figuring out if I have spiked her juice/applesauce/ice cream etc. Doesn't even matter what form of med we are talking about: liquid, crushed pill, dissolvable etc. she can sniff/taste em out.

She packed her little suitcase yesterday: 2 webkinz, 1 littlest petshop VIP, her High School Musical nightgown, undies and a garland of silk flowers big enough to award the winner of the kentucky derby.

I removed the flowers, packed one of special request nightgowns from Gramma (my mom made it for her) some clothes for the ride home, and a surprise gift from her first Preschool teacher. In my bag she asked me to put one of the "Dirty Jobs" DVDs so we can watch that if we spend the night. She loves that show!

She is a special little girl.