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Grace in Motion: How Kathlynn Found Her Inner Strength With Scoliosis

Grace in Motion: How Kathlynn Found Her Inner Strength With Scoliosis

by | Jun 17, 2025 | Prosthetics & Orthotics, Scoliosis & Spine

For Kathlynn, of Waxahachie, Texas, dance is not just a hobby. It is an outlet for expression that brings joy. Just days after Kathlynn’s 10th birthday, she and her family went to the pediatrician for a routine visit. The pediatrician noticed a curve in Kathlynn’s back and administered an X-ray, confirming two curves in her spine. After visiting another facility, the family began searching for resources in their area.

“My husband insisted on getting a second opinion from Scottish Rite for Children,” says Stacy, Kathlynn’s mother. “It was not because he did not believe in the diagnosis. You couldn’t deny the X-ray. However, my husband felt there had to be a place that catered to the experience of children.”

Kathlynn was evaluated by pediatric orthopedic surgeon Amy L. McIntosh, M.D., who diagnosed her with the most common type of scoliosis — adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Specifically, Kathlynn has two spinal curves — a thoracic, or upper spine, curve of 21 degrees and a lumbar, or lower spine, curve of 22 degrees. During the same appointment, Kathlynn met with orthotist Sara L. Martinson, C.P.O., who custom made a brace to address her spine curve.

“At our first visit, we had the opportunity to meet Dr. McIntosh, who acknowledged and comforted our fears,” Stacy says. “The fact that the brace is made onsite and adjustments can be done anytime is such a gift to us.”

In Kathlynn’s case, brace wear came with the fear of being taken away from her passion —dance. Dr. McIntosh and her family agreed on all-day bracing for Kathlynn, with the recommendation to wear it 20 hours a day. With this plan, Kathlynn wears her brace to sleep and only takes it off for dance. While no limitations were placed on Kathlynn’s physical activities, adjusting to a scoliosis brace can be challenging physically and mentally. For Kathlynn, it encouraged her to work harder.

“Despite the physical demands that come from practicing and performing, Kathlynn never lets scoliosis define her,” Stacy says.

While Kathlynn’s journey is not over, she continues to handle bracing with grace. “Scottish Rite has given us more than medical care,” Stacy says. “They’ve given us hope, education and a clear plan. We’re especially grateful for how the team speaks directly to Kathlynn, helping her feel seen and heard. That connection and level of trust have made a huge difference in her commitment and growth.”

Pointe Readiness: How Does a Dance Instructor Know When a Young Dancer Should Start?

Pointe Readiness: How Does a Dance Instructor Know When a Young Dancer Should Start?

by | Jun 13, 2025 | Research & Innovation, Sports Medicine

A young ballet dancer who is committed to the art will eagerly await the opportunity to join more experienced dancers en pointe. Many factors should be considered before making the transition to training in pointe shoes. Parents and instructors should take this decision seriously and guide young dancers. However, Scottish Rite for Children’s researchers suggest not all instructors are familiar with common objective tests that can be used to aid in this decision.

The Scottish Rite Movement Science team surveyed 31 ballet instructors representing 15 states and one other country. The instructors reported using the following factors to decide when a ballet dancer was ready to transition:

  • Strength (100%)
  • Dance technique (94%)
  • Age (87%)
  • Years of ballet experience (71%)

In a 2024 study, published in the Journal of Dance Medicine, lead biomechanist in the Scottish Rite for Children Movement Science Lab Ashley Erdman, B.S., M.B.A., and other researchers found that, while strength, dance technique and age were the top considerations for evaluating readiness, approximately 40% of instructors did not evaluate flexibility or movement quality prior to progressing to pointe. Overall, their knowledge of existing criteria was low.

The instructors acknowledged they were not familiar with accepted criteria, such as range of motion, endurance and balance performance thresholds. They were also not familiar with strategies or tests to assess these factors.

Performing en pointe is difficult if the dancer does not have the flexibility, strength, experience and control that are needed in an elevated position. Erdman states there are published and accepted criteria for pointe readiness that could be used and encourages parents to talk with dance instructors early in the decision-making process.

Watch this video to learn how to assess your ballerina’s strength and stability when considering a transition to pointe work.

Central Oregon Daily: Andrew’s Journey Back to the Baseball Field

Central Oregon Daily: Andrew’s Journey Back to the Baseball Field

by | Jun 12, 2025 | Hip Disorders, Press Coverage

Andrew was only 8 when Perthes disease, a rare childhood hip disorder, changed everything. One day, he was playing baseball, and the next, he couldn’t walk.

“There were days he would come home from school, and he was in so much pain he would go lay down in his bed for the rest of the day,” says Megan, Andrew’s mother. “We knew something was wrong.”

With no clear answers, the Barrs consulted multiple specialists and advocated for a perfusion MRI. Unable to get one done in their hometown, they flew from Oregon to Dallas to Scottish Rite for Children where pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Center for Excellence in Hip Harry Kim, M.D., M.S., treated Andrew.

After a successful surgery and two years of physical therapy sessions, Andrew was cleared to walk.

“It’s so amazing to see him do something that he loves again,” Megan says.

Watch his full story on Central Oregon Daily News.

Get to Know Our Staff: Ronni Rowe, Occupational Therapy

Get to Know Our Staff: Ronni Rowe, Occupational Therapy

by | Jun 11, 2025 | Spotlight, Therapy Services

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am an occupational therapist (OT) and assistive technology professional. I work with patients and their families to order their custom wheelchairs, cover clinics and see our Intensive Therapy patients.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I love getting to see a child and/or family reach their care goals. I really love when I get to be involved in the process of a child receiving their first wheelchair. When children finally have the ability to safely move in their own environment and with minimal help from others, their faces light up. You get to see them get so excited and start moving around everywhere.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite is really like a big family, not just between co-workers but with patients and their families as well. Even on harder days, everyone is always looking to do their best for the patients and their families.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I have always wanted to do work that helps other people. When I was in high school, I met a little girl with cerebral palsy, and her mom told me all about OT. The little girl was able to be a kid and play within her environment through OT. It was a light bulb moment for me that OT was the career path for me.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I work across many settings within Scottish Rite, so I get to build relationships with many colleagues. I love getting to know our inpatient nurses and staff, clinical staff, physcians and even our outside vendors.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy playing with my dog Kodak, being outside and hanging out with my husband and my friends. We spend a lot of time at Lake Palestine in East Texas to fish, swim, kayak and paddleboard.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I grew up in Jacksonville, Texas, which is around 20 minutes south of Tyler, Texas, (also known as “The 903”). I do have a little bit of a country accent from living in East Texas, and sometimes it gets stronger when I work with families from East Texas. I moved to Denton, Texas, for college and then to the DFW area for graduate school. I was a student at Scottish Rite in 2019, and I was hired in 2020 and have stayed here since.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would go to Austraila to see all the wildlife and beaches!

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I choose burgers. I love making burgers because you can add different toppings to make it like a different meal each time.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“Napoleon Dynamite”

What was the first concert you attended?
I saw Kenny Chesney.

Favorite hidden DFW gem?
Taqueria Los Angeles in Plano, Texas.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Anne Hathaway, but she has to have her crazy curls before her makeover in “The Princess Diaries.”

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
An old co-worker told me it is OK to take a minute and take a breath when things get hard. This has stuck with me as a great reminder.

One Diagnosis, Two Unique Journeys: Ellie and Josie Take On Scoliosis Together

One Diagnosis, Two Unique Journeys: Ellie and Josie Take On Scoliosis Together

by | Jun 9, 2025 | Prosthetics & Orthotics, Scoliosis & Spine

With an insatiable love for reading, 13-year-old Ellie and 10-year-old Josie, of McGregor, Texas, have always turned the page of their story together, even as they face scoliosis side by side. Their mother, Sarah, recognized the signs early as she was diagnosed with scoliosis herself as a teenager.

“I always knew it could be a possibility for my kids,” Sarah says. “I noticed that both girls began to develop curves that were apparent even to an untrained eye, so we started to look for options.”

Ellie, Josie and their family came to Scottish Rite for Children where they receive treatment from Megan E. Johnson, M.D. — medical director of Ambulatory Care, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and program director of the Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis. During their first evaluation, Dr. Johnson discovered that both girls have idiopathic scoliosis, the most common type of scoliosis with no known cause.

While Ellie and Josie share a similar diagnosis, no two spine curves are the same. Ellie has adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), which primarily affects children and teens between the ages of 10 to 18. In her case, she has two curves — a 30-degree thoracolumbar curve, where the upper and lower parts of the spine meet, and a 21-degree thoracic, or middle back, curve. Josie has juvenile idiopathic scoliosis, which affects children between the ages of 4 to 10. In her case, she has a 33-degree thoracic curve.

To treat both girls, Dr. Johnson recommended bracing. Bracing is typically used for curves measuring between 20 and 45 degrees. It is prescribed to prevent curves from worsening. For Ellie and Josie, Dr. Johnson instructed them to wear their scoliosis braces for 18 to 20 hours a day.

“I knew one scoliosis brace could be expensive,” Sarah says. “However, two? Could we really afford that?” To make Ellie’s and Josie’s braces more affordable, their family enrolled in Scottish Rite’s Crayon Care program. Crayon Care is a charity care program that provides financial assistance to families receiving treatment at Scottish Rite. “Scottish Rite’s Crayon Care has been such a blessing to us,” Sarah says. “We know we are getting the best care for Ellie and Josie.”

Scottish Rite’s in-house Orthotics and Prosthetics department created custom braces for Ellie and Josie for same-day fittings at their appointments. Additionally, their care team consists of certified pediatric nurse practitioner Emily Chapman, APRN, CPNP-PC, and Director of Orthotics Don Virostek, C.P.O., L.P.O. Virostek creates and fits Ellie’s and Josie’s braces while Chapman monitors their spine curves for any growth.

While bracing started as simply a treatment plan, it kick-started a friendly competition between the sisters. All Scottish Rite for Children braces include a small temperature-sensitive device that tracks how long a child wears their brace and their progression.

“Ellie and Josie get really competitive about wearing their braces,” Sarah says. “We always look forward to seeing who wore their braces longer when we visit Scottish Rite.”  

Recently, the girls returned to Scottish Rite for a visit with their three younger sisters. During their appointment, they discovered the winner of their brace-wearing contest. By a difference of only one hour, Ellie wore her brace longer. Although their story is still being written, Ellie and Josie continue to support each other through every chapter.

“We are thankful to see the improvements in their spines,” Sarah says. “I’ve recommended Scottish Rite to other parents because of the level of care. We are so thankful that Scottish Rite is relatively close by and feel great, knowing we have this wonderful resource.”