Hello All!

I apologize we have not sent out a recent update on Allison. She is doing fantastic! Allison has been posting her own updates on her "My Journey" column located on her website: kickincurves.org  Check it out! 

 I don't know if you knew that Allison has her own website and that she has a Global Scoliosis Foundation Chapter for the Tampa Bay area through her website Kick'n Curves - where she reaches out to kids with scoliosis locally and all over the world. John and I helped Allison create her Kick'n Curves website once we realized she needed spinal fusion surgery and we felt so alone and unknowing with the whole process. Kick'n Curves was created to help families and their children living with the same physical condition of scoliosis. It is informative and supportive. So far she has had a few calls, emails and views from all over the world! I am sure her website will be a great success as the word gets out. I hope you are able to check it out!  If not, I copied her latest update from this past Monday below. =)

Wow!! It has almost been a month since my surgery! Last week was my follow up appointment with Dr. Hahn (my orthopedic surgeon). He took new x-rays and was very happy to see how well I am recovering. He was pleased with the new x-rays and said the surgery could not have gone better. My scoliosis went from 66 degrees to 11 degrees!! And my lumbar curve is straightening out on its own. It was a compensatory curve that went from 43 degrees to now 28 degrees! This was great news for me! The doctor said I still cannot bend, lift or twist... but in three weeks I will be able to do most everything again like swimming, bike riding and even ice skating too!

Tomorrow is my fist day back to school! Yeaaaa!  This is also a new school for me so I am nervous and excited to start back and make new friends. I hope sitting for long hours at a desk won't bother me, but my parents talked to the teachers and they said they will work with me. The doctor also wrote a school note so the school can see what I can and cannot do at school. I still cannot lift over 5 pounds so I am getting a rolling backpack. I cannot go to gym so I will be a standby helper. The doctors note says I can leave 10 minutes early from classes if I want so I can get to my next classes easily. So I think I will be fine.

I am feeling good and off all my medicine except for extra strength Tylenol. I only take it at night to get a good nights sleep, and I probably will take before school just to make sure the day is not too long for my back.  Everything is getting back to normal ... and I like that! I can even walk for long distances without getting too tired!

Life is good!  LOL  =)

Allison's Update - 08/30 2 weeks Post Op

We removed Allison's bandages today!!  She was a bit nervous to have us remove them because her back is still so tender and sore, but she was excited to finally see her scar. It was a 25 minute process to remove the bandages slowly and gently...but once complete she quickly wanted to see pictures! LOL  She is proud of her scar. =)

Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to heal.

Thanks!!  

Allison's Update 08/28 - 12 Days Post Op

Allison is slowly doing better each and every day. She still relies heavily on her medication to help keep her comfortable throughout the day, which is to be expected at this point. She is getting out more often now with trips to Walmart and to craft stores (to keep her busy and refocus her pain). She has even gone out to dinner a couple times! These activities really tire her out easily so we keep them to a minimum. 

We will be removing her bandages this weekend. It makes me and John nervous but Allison cannot wait and has been counting down the days!!! lol  One more step in the recovery process. =)

Allison has thoroughly enjoyed the cards, flowers and gifts she has received. They truly made her feel very special.

We are grateful for the support we have received from family and friends. It is times like this that make you realize the special people in your life.

We will continue to send updates once a week (or more) until she is back on her feet and gone to school!! (which she is really looking forward to)!

This is a picture of Allison going on a walk tonight at the park. Did I tell you the surgery grew her about 2 inches?! She is just a wee bit shy as tall as her dad now!! (5'7") That is pretty tall for a 13 year old!! =)

Allison Post Op Day 6 - Update Aug 22

Today
Allison comes home!!
Allison was released from the hospital to come home.  We received all of our instructions of do and don'ts before leaving and loaded her into the car with multiple pillows for the car ride home!  Along the way we stopped for two of her favorite foods, a smoothie from smoothie king and Orange chicken from the panda express! Her back was bothering her too much by the time we got it to eat, so it was saved for dinner.  She is now trying to get settled into her regular bed after having the fully adjustable bed and Kathleen and I excited to sleep in our bed after sleeping in her room for the last week.  I will have to admit though that Kathleen and I will miss the hospital room service!  The food was pretty good at the hospital and the best thing was somebody delivered it to us!!  Attached is a picture of Allison leaving the hospital and the other picture is Allison's spine with the new hardware!

http://Allisonsurgery.blogspot.com

Allison Post Op Day 5 - Update Aug 21

Allison is almost ready to go home!  She had another busy day today.  She was able to shower with some help from Mom and put on her makeup to make her feel better, see attached picture.  She had her post op xray which we will get a copy of when we check out of the hospital.  She has been eating better today also.  The only bad part now is that she is till in a tremendous amount of pain which they explain is expected.  The pain is her back is the healing from the muscles being cut through to get to her spine and of course the work on her spine itself as well as the rods straightening it out.  The good news is, she will be discharged from the
hospital to come home tomorrow! =)



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Allison Post Op Day 4 Evening Update

Today was a huge day for Allison!  She walked the halls, used the bathroom on her own and sang with the music therapist!  She was so happy singing today. She sings every day at home but hadn't since surgery. It made her so happy to sing again it brought tears to her eyes and even inspired her to walk up to the family room and play the piano while she sang!

 She still has a lot of pain that she has to deal with but the doctors and nurses are very happy with her progress and will probably let her come home on Wednesday! =)

In addition to the attached pictures see this link of Allison singing from bed for the first time since surgery:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHXyk8hOPnE

Allison Post Op Day 4 - Morning Update Aug 20th

Today is a big day for Allison.  They started off changing her dressing which you can see in the attached picture.  There are no stitches on the surface of her skin, all the sutures are below the skin.  Her "Happy" button that delivers her pain meds was just removed and she started a by mouth pain medication.  She will also be getting up and walking today with the physical therapist. If all goes well, she is scheduled to come home sometime on Wednesday.