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Micaela’s Road to Confidence Through Expert Care

Micaela’s Road to Confidence Through Expert Care

by | Feb 28, 2025 | Hip Disorders, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Scoliosis & Spine

Micaela, of Northlake, Texas, is described by her family as the “ultimate girly girl.” She can often be seen arriving to her appointments at Scottish Rite for Children wearing pink or purple with bows in her hair. At age 6, she is full of confidence and fearlessness — a feat gained from the support she receives daily from her family and care team at Scottish Rite.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Micaela was born with several conditions. She was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis, a spinal curve that is present at birth. She also has tibial hemimelia in her left leg, meaning part of the bone in her lower leg  was missing at birth. This ultimately led to the amputation of her lower leg. Additionally, Micaela has dysplasia of her left hip, a condition in which the hip joint did not form correctly. Because of these conditions, her family recognized early on that she would need specialized, expert care.

“On the island, access to specialists was limited due to long waiting lists,” says Emele, Micaela’s mother. “Since coming to Scottish Rite, Micaela has become more independent, thanks to her care team.”

After moving to Texas to be closer to family, Micaela was referred to Scottish Rite by a pediatrician to receive multidisciplinary care. Pediatric orthopedic surgeon Jaysson T. Brooks, M.D., led Micaela’s spinal care, which required her to wear a series of Mehta casts. These casts were used until she could be transitioned to custom spine braces created by Scottish Rite’s Orthotics and Prosthetics team.

“One of Micaela’s favorite parts about coming to Scottish Rite is playing with the projector games on the wall in the waiting room, right before going in for an X-ray,” Emele says. “At each appointment, Dr. Brooks makes sure we don’t leave with any questions about her care.”

Her team of orthotists creates prostheses that adjust to her physical needs and aesthetic preferences, incorporating rainbow and unicorn designs. Micaela also meets with occupational therapists to practice moving around in a walker and wheelchair. While her care journey is not over, Micaela’s family has joined Scottish Rite’s Peer Support Program to connect with other families whose children have similar medical conditions.

“Without a doubt, our Scottish Rite experience has made us feel like we are around family,” Emele says. “We are excited to meet with other families and potentially gain new friends. To us, Scottish Rite means hope for a better life for my girl.”

Leap of Faith: Dane’s Daring Journey of Overcoming Perthes Disease

Leap of Faith: Dane’s Daring Journey of Overcoming Perthes Disease

by | Sep 27, 2024 | Hip Disorders

It is always fulfilling to learn about the impact Scottish Rite for Children has on patients beyond treatment. Recently, former patient Dane Hammack felt nostalgic about the care he received at Scottish Rite for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, also known as Perthes. Dane says his family re-located from Paris, Texas to Dallas so he could receive care here in the 1980s.

“My favorite thing about my time at Scottish Rite was the friends and staff,” Dane says. “I remember sharing a room with a kid who had a spine disorder. We would shoot ice at each other through bendy straws while we were bed-ridden.” Dane even remembers when the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders visited!

Perthes disease is rare and is more commonly seen in boys. Approximately 10 children per 100,000 will be diagnosed each year. Our experts in the Center for Excellence in Hip are dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of Perthes disease, consistently advancing treatment methods through clinical studies. Even now, few doctors have experience in diagnosing and treating Perthes disease. Scottish Rite staff provide individualized and comprehensive care for the whole child’s physical and mental state – an aspect that Dane reflects positively on.

“The staff never felt sorry of my condition, which made me feel normal in a way,” Dane says. “Through the surgery and braces, I was able to get through it all.”

After completing treatment at Scottish Rite, Dane says he was able to enjoy his childhood to the fullest. He was very active and played on his high school’s football and wrestling teams.

“I moved to San Diego to be with my dad after treatment,” Dane says. “No one there knew me as the kid with the cast. I had the sense that I could do whatever I wanted to do.”

At age 20, Dane went to a Dallas military base to enlist in the U.S. Army. For each branch of military service, a series of examinations are conducted to see if the applicant meets the branch’s requirements. During Dane’s physical, his surgery scar from Perthes disease treatment was seen by the doctor.

“The doctor did an X-ray on my hip, and even I was in shock,” Dane says. “I was told I couldn’t enlist, because of the Perthes disease and its damage to my right hip. All I was asking for was to be given a fair shot.”

Dane decided to reach out to his local Senator, Sen. Phil Gramm at the time, and sent a letter that described his situation. “I handwrote that letter with pencil,” Dane says. “I just wanted to get going!” Dane’s letter to Gramm got his case moving, and his eligibility to enlist would be determined by one final task – run a timed 10K.

“My mother always said everything is only temporary and nothing lasts forever,” Dane says. “The worst times you will ever have won’t last forever.” After two years of challenges, Dane ran a successful time and finally enlisted into the U.S. Army.

For 12 years, Dane was in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) as a psychological operations specialist and then a jumpmaster. He travelled to many countries, such as Malawi, Namibia, Colombia and Ecuador to name a few. As a jumpmaster, Dane oversaw the safety checks for parachutes and was the first one to jump out of the plane. However, he sustained a back injury after a parachute accident and decided to leave the Army for life closer to family.

Dane applied to the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona at the age of 32 and is still serving as a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

“Thinking back to what helped me was the people who supported me,” Dane says. “Thank you does not come close to expressing what Scottish Rite has offered me.”

Our patients’ stories are a timeless gift, reminding us why we serve and what an honor it is to give children back their childhood. When you come to Scottish Rite, you truly become a member of our forever family!

Do you have a story? We want to hear it! Share your story with us.

Recognizing Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Your Baby

Recognizing Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Your Baby

by | Nov 27, 2023 | Hip Disorders

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) occurs when a baby’s hip joint doesn’t form properly. In most cases, the problem is present at birth, but DDH can also develop as a child grows. It’s essential for parents to know the signs of DDH. The earlier a specialist treats the condition, the better a child’s chances of appropriate development and living without hip problems later in life. DDH occurs in about one in 100 infants.

Defining DDH

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The ball, called the femoral head, sits at the upper end of the thighbone and fits snugly into a socket in the large pelvis bone. This ball moves around but always stays inside the hip socket, allowing the hip to move backward, forward and side-to-side while supporting body weight.

When a child has DDH, the ball is not fully covered in the socket or the socket is shallow, which can easily lead to a dislocated hip. Or the hip may already be dislocated or completely or partially out of the socket. Without treatment, the hip joint will not grow properly. As a child gets older, he or she might have pain when walking or develop arthritis at a young age.

Babies at Higher Risk of DDH

While any baby can have DDH, the risk is higher in babies who:

  • Are female
  • Are the first-born child
  • Have a family history of DDH
  • Were born in the breech position (buttocks first instead of head first)

In rare cases, babies can develop DDH after birth. For example, swaddling a baby with the legs straight and tight together can increase the risk of DDH. To help prevent this, talk to your provider about how to use sleep sacks and how to swaddle your infant correctly.

“There’s a lot of importance in how we take care of our babies’ hips after they’re born,” said hip specialist and pediatric orthopedic surgeon William Z. Morris, M.D. “Swaddling the legs in a forced extension can cause the hips to develop incorrectly. The ball and the socket are almost like moldable pieces of clay when you are young, so letting the hips and legs move into a flexed and separated position helps keep the ball tucked up in the socket and makes the socket deeper and the ball rounder.”

When swaddling your baby, focus on wrapping the arms and upper torso only, allowing the hips and legs to move without constriction.

Know the Signs

Babies with DDH do not have pain from the condition. However, parents may notice:

  • A clicking or popping in the hip that you can hear or feel
  • Differences in leg length (one leg being shorter than the other)
  • One leg or hip is not moving the same as the other
  • Skin folds under the buttocks do not line up
  • A limp when the child starts to walk

If you notice your baby has any of these symptoms, immediately make an appointment with your pediatrician.

Doctors usually find signs of DDH during a child’s annual checkup. If symptoms are present or the child has risk factors, the doctor will likely order tests to confirm a diagnosis. These might include:

  • Ultrasound: This imaging test uses sound waves to create pictures of the hip joint. Ultrasound works best with babies younger than 6 months old because the hip joint is mostly cartilage at this age and doesn’t show up on an X-ray.
  • X-ray: In babies older than 6 months, bones have formed well enough to appear on X-ray images.

If your child has DDH, your pediatrician will refer you to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon will choose the best treatment to hold the hip in place and help the ball stay in the socket so the hip joint will grow normally and not cause problems as your child gets older. Early intervention with DDH is important.

“Parents should know that DDH caught early is treated very successfully,” Morris said. “And the vast majority of the time we can do so without surgery.”

Treatment options for developmental dysplasia of the hip include:

  • Bracing: This is the most common treatment for babies younger than 6 months old. The soft fabric brace, called a Pavlik harness, is a shoulder harness with attached foot stirrups. The brace puts the baby’s legs in a “frog-like” position that allows the ball of the hip joint to fit into the socket properly. This treatment usually lasts about six to 12 weeks. Many babies don’t need additional treatment. Even severe cases, where the hip is fully dislocated, are treatable with a harness or brace more than 80% of the time.
  • Closed reduction and spica casting: If bracing does not correct the problem or the child is older than 6 months at the time of diagnosis, the surgeon might do a closed reduction procedure. The surgeon will inject contrast dye into the hip joint to see the cartilage and gently move the thighbone, guiding the ball of the joint into the socket. The baby will then wear a special cast, called a hip spica cast, for two to four months. The cast will hold the hip joint in place.
  • Open reduction: This is a type of surgery done if a closed reduction is unsuccessful or when the child is older than 18 months at the start of treatment. During the surgery, the surgeon moves muscles to see the hip joint and puts the ball properly in place. An open reduction also requires a hip spica cast to hold the hip joint in place.

When doctors find DDH early, your child will likely benefit more from nonsurgical treatment and may not need surgery. If you have any concerns about your child’s hips, talk to your pediatrician about a referral to a pediatric orthopedic specialist.

Is your baby showing signs of developmental dysplasia of the hip? Schedule an appointment with a specialist at the Scottish Rite for Children.

Share Your Story: Finding Hope and Staying the Course Through Perthes Treatment

Share Your Story: Finding Hope and Staying the Course Through Perthes Treatment

by | Nov 20, 2023 | Hip Disorders

Blog written by Megan, Garrett’s mom

In June 2022, Garrett developed a limp and complained about his right knee hurting. We went to his pediatrician for an X-ray after a few weeks of not getting any relief. He had just attended a basketball camp and is active in many sports.The knee X-ray in June showed no damage, sowe started some chiropractic care to stretch and see if we could determine what was causing his pain. After 6 weeks, nothing changed. Garrett would say that his hip was “tight,” but he said there was no pain.

Garrett had an MRI in August so we could determine the next course of action. It was in the MRI that it was discovered his femoral head was quickly deteriorating, and he had Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. We went to a local hospital for a consultation, and my son was told not to walk on his own without the help of crutches. The word “nonweightbearing” was seared into our brains.

He started school four days later, and we had to urgently contact his school’s administration to discuss accommodations for him.  There was so much anxiety about attending school on crutches and being asked questions. Garrett didn’t want to tell anyone what was going on, and I dreaded the school year knowing this was going to be the most challenging thing he’d ever faced.

While our local health care options are great, we wanted to get a second opinion since this was such a devastating diagnosis for such an active and energetic kid. I started reading everything I could on Perthes disease. I was up late one night researching the disease, and I found some videos featuring Dr. Harry Kim with Scottish Rite for Children. He just seemed to be the expert in this condition, and I wanted nothing but the best care for my son. 

I requested an appointment online, and we were contacted the next day. Although we live nine hours away, we jumped at the chance to travel to Dallas and get a second opinion. I wanted to talk to a nurse to make sure we really should travel to see Dr. Kim. Despite some doubts, something kept gnawing on me to keep pushing. Dr. Kim’s nurse, Kristen, called me a few days later, and we talked about the situation. She asked me to get the X-ray and MRI files to her for Dr. Kim to review. Soon after, she called me and said Garrett had an advanced stage of necrosis, and he needed to be seen as soon as possible. She set an appointment, and we cleared our calendars to make it to Dallas for a perfusion MRI and consultation with Dr. Kim. 

Dr. Kim reviewed his MRI. Garrett’s femoral head had completely collapsed in a period of about four months. He was a more challenging case, but Dr. Kim felt like we could, with treatment and surgery, get the best outcome if we stayed the course. On our drive home, I remember telling my husband that any guilt I had for seeking additional opinions was gone the moment Dr. Kim started explaining the treatment options. He was both conservative in his explanation but also gave me a sense of hope, too. He was clear that Garrett would end up in a wheelchair for a while, and he would need surgery. He wanted to do a tenotomy and a bone-marrow drilling to relieve some of the inflammation and tightness and then apply a Petrie cast to keep the hip in a certain placement as the first step. I clearly remember crying with Garrett at the thought of this massive contraption on my child. Dr. Kim had an opening for surgery in one week, and we jumped at the chance to get started. 

The first surgery went as planned. Nothing can prepare a child for waking up and being in a double-leg cast. However, the care team at Scottish Rite was amazing from the beginning. The Child Life staff brought in a mobile game console pre-surgery, and Garrett played some video games to take his mind off of the surgery. The day after his surgery, Child Life took him to the playroom area with games, toys, art projects, etc., for a few hours, and it was a blessing for me to get some rest.

Dr. Kim checked on him, and Garrett felt like a VIP by ordering his meals via the phone. As we prepared to leave after a few days, the Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy staff took great care to show us how to get Garrett in and out of our car and worked with us to get to the bathroom, use the new (and massive) wheelchair, and prepare ourselves to go home and manage this new lifestyle for the next six weeks. 

Garrett couldn’t go to school normally during that first casting. The classroom doors were not wide enough to accommodate the platform that his legs had to rest on in the wheelchair. Every time we had to move him, we had to pick him up, take off the platform, push the wheelchair through the door, reinstall the platform, and then put him back in the wheelchair. It really is as daunting as it sounds. My husband Chad and I were very worried about the social toll this would take on Garrett. His teacher and the school administration were helpful and even had some home-tutoring set up. Garrett went to school for about four hours on a Tuesday each week to get in math and reading instruction.

The six weeks passed relatively quickly, and we didn’t stay inside and stay home. Our family is busy, and that’s an understatement. We run a small business, we work at lots of festivals and events, and we were not going to let this disease just stop us in our tracks. We were determined to make sure Garrett still interacted with people and was part of our lives as always. We took him to events, and he ran the cash register. He went fishing with his cousins. We hosted a video game birthday party with his friends where we just let them take over the living room and stay up as late as they could binging on junk food.His first cast came off in mid-November. It was joyous, and he was able to stay cast-free through the holidays.

We traveled back to Scottish Rite in early January and met with Dr. Kim. Unfortunately, Garrett had developed some stiffness and inflammation, and we couldn’t do an osteotomy as soon as we hoped. After correcting some issues with his brace, Garrett was cleared for his osteotomy soon after. He had to have a triple hip osteotomy instead of a femoral osteotomy. It’s more invasive and requires two doctors to work together to perform the surgery. Dr. Kim’s amazing staff was looking at scheduling for us in advance and noticed there was one appointment available with both doctors … the next week. So, we made another quick trip home and prepared for surgery. 

Because the surgeons knew the danger of falling and damaging the work they were about to do, Garrett would have a spica cast that would encompass his right leg and entire torso. I thought Garrett was going to jump through the ceiling. I calmed him down and promised to get him to a Dallas Mavericks game eventually, if he would just understand that the doctors needed to do this casting to give his hip the best chance of recovery without damage. The surgery went well, and Garrett actually went to school five days a week for five weeks in his spica cast without issues.

Now, we are in the “waiting phase” of this dreadful disease. We hope the surgeries are done. We’re just waiting to see progress and bone growth. We hope surgery and casting is over, but we will follow Dr. Kim’s lead and trust his judgement. We pray every day for strength, patience, guidance and healing. We know this is out of our hands, and we are not in control, but we have picked the best team and talent to help us manage this difficult period. We can’t wait to return to the activities he loves. I know I will cry buckets of tears the day he steps back on the basketball court. As another Perthes mom told me, “This is a disease you never knew about and never thought you’d deal with, but here we are, and at least there are people surrounding you to help.” 

This past summer, Garrett went to Camp Perthes in Minnesota! He got to meet others with Perthes and spend five days at camp doing kid things. The camp was started by Earl Cole, the winner of Survivor: Fiji. Earl Cole had Perthes as a child and used some of his winnings to start Perthes camp. He’s an example of someone who went through this disease, and he wants to help others do the same. And Earl Cole was raised in Kansas City, Kan—-small world! Garrett had a wonderful time spending time with other Perthes kids, enjoying activities like canoeing and rope courses.

Garrett started beekeeping with his dad during the pandemic.  He was in first grade, and he has his own Facebook page where he captured his beekeeping adventures.  We plan to get back to his Itty Bitty Beekeeper page and keep chronicling his adventures when he is released from treatment. His page is here: https://www.facebook.com/ittybittybeekeeper. 

Right now, with Perthes disease, we allow him way more video game time than we want. However, it keeps him social and interacting with kids on the weekends when he would normally be at a sports practice or outing.  Once we get released from treatment, we will encourage him to return to his beloved sports.  He told him that his focus, when healed, is to become the best basketball player he can be.

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Share Your Story: Exceptional Care

Share Your Story: Exceptional Care

by | Jun 16, 2023 | Hip Disorders

Meet Sam, a patient who is treated by our experts in the Center for Excellence in Hip. Sam and Dr. Kim have formed a special bond through the years, as Sam was just 9 years old when he first became Dr. Kim’s patient. Sam has a childhood disorder of the hip called Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, also known as Perthes disease.

Perthes is a condition in which a child’s hip joint is abnormal, and the blood supply to the head of the thighbone is temporarily stopped. Perthes is uncommon — approximately five to 10 children per 100,000 will be diagnosed each year — and it more commonly affects boys — one in 760 boys.

Nonsurgical treatments might include reducing physical activity and weightbearing on the affected legs using crutches, wheelchairs, casting and/or bracing. In Sam’s case, a surgery called an osteotomy was necessary. Surgical treatments for Perthes might include pelvic or femoral osteotomy, a process that reorients the pelvis or femur. In older children, another treatment option is to make bone channels to speed up healing and to inject bone marrow stem cells.

Perthes disease is a very uncommon condition that few doctors have experience in diagnosing and treating. It is important for parents to find a pediatric orthopedic specialist with a special interest in Perthes disease that cares for children with the condition regularly. 
 
Under the direction of Harry Kim, M.D., M.S., researchers in our Center for Excellence in Hip are dedicated to studying the progression of Perthes and other hip conditions, in kids just like Sam. Scottish Rite for Children is the leading center for the International Perthes Study Group (IPSG). 

IPSG includes more than 50 pediatric orthopedic surgeons and researchers from 10 different countries who are dedicated to improving the care of patients with Perthes disease. Their research provides important insight into this condition and will lead to the development of new treatment methods. As a long-time patient at Scottish Rite, Sam also participated in clinical research studies and understands the impact of quality patient care and the importance of research on a patient’s life.
 
It’s been a couple of years since your last surgery. How are you doing?  
I am currently in high school, and in the summer, I work as a lifeguard at our local pool. I think my life is pretty normal. My friends understand it can sometimes hurt when I walk for too long, so I use my bike to ride when my friends are walking, or we all take the golf cart. 
 
Can you talk about your connection with Dr. Kim?  
Dr. Kim and his staff have always explained everything to me in ways that I can understand. As a teenager, they talk to me about my disease and include me in everything. I really appreciate the effort they make to keep me involved in my care.
 
Do you have any specific memories about your time spent at Scottish Rite? 
Scottish Rite helped me stay active when I couldn’t walk. I learned how to do special stretches and started doing activities that allowed me to stay active and strong during treatment. I’m thankful I was able to keep moving, and I continue to swim and play sled hockey. Because of the treatment I received from Scottish Rite, I can walk, hike, play and have fun with my friends! 
 
Also, when I had my different surgeries, I loved spending time in the Child Life Playroom. Everyone was really nice and helped make things seem less scary. 

What would you tell patients and families thinking about participating in research at Scottish Rite? 
Do it! It is the best decision you can make! 
 
What are your plans for your future? 
I am on my school’s robotics team. I want to be an engineer. 

Can you talk about your overall experience at Scottish Rite? 
Sam’s mom, Nerissa – I have learned that the Scottish Rite will take care of you. Sam is inspiring others in the sport of sled hockey and staying active in a sport he loves because of Scottish Rite! Sam is actually my second child to benefit from Scottish Rite. My daughter Meredith went through the Take Flight program and graduated high school with an incredible GPA! None of this would be possible without Scottish Rite!

I feel incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Kim as my son’s doctor. Not only does he provide exceptional medical care for my son’s bone disease, but he also goes above and beyond.

One aspect that truly sets Dr. Kim and his staff apart is their commitment to attending Camp Perthes every year. This camp serves as a wonderful platform for encouragement, not only for Dr. Kim’s patients and parents, but also for everyone in attendance. It’s truly heartwarming to see a medical professional and team take the time to support and uplift individuals facing challenges.

The care and support we have received from Dr. Kim and his staff have been outstanding. They are an incredibly caring and supportive group of professionals who genuinely understand the difficulties that come with dealing with something hard in life. Their compassionate nature and dedication make a world of difference in our journey.

Dr. Kim’s expertise in treating my son’s bone disease is exceptional. He and the team consistently ensure that we understand the treatment options available and take the time to answer all our questions with patience and clarity. His approach instills confidence and trust, which is invaluable in such a challenging situation.

Scottish Rite for Children is equally remarkable. Everyone is friendly, attentive and always ready to lend a helping. I cannot recommend Dr. Kim and his team highly enough. If you are looking for a doctor who genuinely cares and supports you through difficult times, Dr. Kim is the one to trust.

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Share Your Story: Cambryn Mannos – Redefining Myself

Share Your Story: Cambryn Mannos – Redefining Myself

by | Jan 12, 2023 | Hip Disorders

Blog written by Cambryn, and Cambryn’s mom, Amy.

Go back a year and you could find me, Cambryn, age 9, training with the best team and best coaches in all of New Mexico. My sport is gymnastics — the sport of all sports that defines toughness, perseverance and dedication. Winning competition after competition, I was defined as the best in my age group, hardworking, fearless, fireball, hotshot and destined to be counted among some great gymnasts. I was born into gymnastics, raised at Gold Cup Gymnastics School and the true definition of a “gym rat” with two older siblings competing. The gym is where you could find me all day, every day! Until the day it all came crashing down. It began with hip pain surging with every landing and movement in any backwards motion, including back walkovers, back tucks, back handsprings and back layouts.

My ability and stability were gone, just like that. I visited my orthopedic doctor right away at the request of my head coach, and on the X-ray, the doctor saw a fracture on the head of my left femur. An MRI was ordered, and while waiting, my ability to walk was gone by Christmas Eve. My MRI was now on stat order, and BAM, with all its glory, my MRI lit up black spaces through the head of the femur, showing avascular necrosis and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, big words that I did not understand.

I struggled to find words to define my thoughts. I was referred to another orthopedic doctor in pediatrics, and “wait and see” was the advice. Then, my hip collapsed. All that I was and all that I thought I could be vanished, my definition of myself was gone. I lost it all! And yet again, “wait and see” was the approach. Now I needed a wheelchair, except after three months, I was still on a waitlist to get a wheelchair. 

Nothing seemed to happen but waiting, and I could see nothing in my future to be but that same blackness or death of what I was and what I could be. Gymnasts don’t “wait and see,” they are proactive and always in a constant state of motion. This is where my redefining journey begins with Scottish Rite for Children. With help from my teammate’s dad, who is a doctor, we found Dr. Harry Kim and his nurse Ms. Kristen. Their knowledge and dedication are a priceless need for us Perthes kids. They gave light to the blackness I saw because they had a game plan! 

Now, the beginning of the fight to redefine myself is not my proudest moments. I have had to do some soul-searching and letting go of a lot of pride and previous definitions of myself to build the “Perthes” me. Because at first, I freaked out at Dr. Kim. “He wants what? Six weeks in a huge cast? Nope, not doing that,” was my response. Yet, this summer, I did the tenotomy and petri casting, and I survived and even thrived with some new adventures. Dr. Kim is amazing, kind, patient and willing to fight my battle with me. Because of him, I know that Scottish Rite for Children is the place for me to get better and be a part of something bigger. You become family at Scottish Rite. I gained family. My care each time I go has been top of the line care. It’s worth the 1,400-mile trip to see my Scottish Rite family and to belong to something big, progressive and healing. 

Today, I find myself in stage 3 of Perthes disease, rebuilding new bone and redefining myself in all that I lost and in all that I have gained. I can grieve what I lost, and I can work hard to regain most of what was lost, but mostly I can seek moments that empower myself so I can empower others. I recently took photos for gymnastics. At first, I was embarrassed at the thought of gymnastics photos with a wheelchair. But the photographer, Kevin Lange, helped me see a bigger picture. I embrace Perthes disease because it is a part of me now, and I can’t change that, but I can choose what I do with it. I choose to find joy and strength in my Perthes journey. To me, Scottish Rite means the chance to regain and redefine myself! It means a new family of people who care about my health. It means everything to my future self who cannot fight this battle alone.

Thank you, Dr. Kim and Ms. Kristen, for your time and energy, for your dedication and expertise. 

Other than gymnastics, I enjoy rock climbing, math, animals, bike riding, hiking and art.

Photo Credits to Kevin Lange

 

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