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Share Your Story: Hole in One

Share Your Story: Hole in One

by | Sep 22, 2021 | Pediatric Developmental Disabilities

Meet Emme, a patient who is treated by our multidisciplinary team of experts.

Blog written by Emme’s mother, Olivia.

On the day Emme was born, I thought she looked absolutely perfect, just like a tiny doll. The next morning, our pediatrician came to check on her and asked if we had noticed the dimple on Emme’s lower back. He suspected she had a tethered spinal cord and sent Emme for some additional imaging.

We were shocked and not exactly sure what was happening. We ended up staying in the hospital for a couple additional days to run these tests. We are super thankful to live in a city that has access to such wonderful doctors. Emme was seen by a pediatric neurosurgeon, and we learned that she indeed had a tethered spinal cord. When we learned about the possible effects of this condition being left untreated, we know that we would move forward with her surgery.

I will never forget that as my little 6-month old was being wheeled back into surgery, she waved to us. Her spinal cord was able to be untethered, and the surgery was successful! From that point on, we called Emme our Tough Princess Girl!

As Emme grew, we found it difficult to find properly fitting shoes. We had also been noticing a difference in size with her feet and legs. Our pediatric neurosurgeon suggested we make an appointment at Scottish Rite for Children for Emme to see Dr. Adams in the spina bifida clinic.

Scottish Rite has provided so much support and in ways we could have never imagined! Emme has regular checkups with Dr. Adams. We are able to monitor the progression of a possible curve in her spine, and there are even experts help to ensure that her shoes fit her properly. Emme looks forward to her visits at Scottish Rite.

She has always been sporty and jumped at the chance to be a member of the Scottish Rite PGA Jr. League Team. Scottish Rite has played a key part in Emme’s confident and positive attitude. Not only does she love golf, but she also loves to tell people about how Scottish Rite has helped her!

This weekend, the United States will take on Europe in the Ryder Cup golf competition. Be on the lookout for Emme, as some of the Whistling Straits golf course signage will feature her participation on the Scottish Rite PGA Jr. League Team.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? WE WANT TO HEAR IT! SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US.

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The Scottish Rite PGA Jr. League Team is an inclusive program, with the PGA Jr. League. Using adaptive equipment, one-on-one coaching and peer support, children like Emme learn new sport-specific skills and build self-confidence. Watch to learn more about the PGA Jr. League’s newest team!

Share Your Story: Dancing Queen

Share Your Story: Dancing Queen

by | Jul 19, 2019 | Pediatric Developmental Disabilities

Meet Leigha, a patient who is treated by the experts in our Pediatric Developmental Disabilities department. Learn more about her journey below.

Blog written by Leigha’s mother, Anjanette, of Rowlett. 

Leigha is a 12-year-old dancer that lives with spina bifida. At birth, she had a large tumor that had attached itself to her spinal cord and tethered it, causing nerve damage and multiple complications. When she was 3 months old, doctors decided to operate on her spine to untether the spinal cord. This started years of surgeries for Leigha.

We discovered Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children when she was about 9 months old. Our family feels blessed and thankful for the constant care, support and education we have and still receive from all the doctors and nurses. Through the years, Leigha has had numerous procedures. She has been taking multiple medications since she was 3 and lives with chronic pain and other complications.

Leigha’s story is not simply about her condition, but rather a story of triumph, hard work and determination.

Leigha is an inspiration to many and our family’s “Dancing Queen.” At the age of 6, Leigha decided that she no longer wanted to do her special needs cheer team and asked to dance at her sister’s dance studio, Beyond Belief Dance Company. Initially, we were apprehensive because this dance studio is very competitive and holds the dancers to high standards. In spite of our misgivings and doubts, we enrolled her in the new studio. Soon after, Leigha had to have another spinal surgery and we thought this may put a stop to her dancing, but we were proven wrong. Unbeknownst to myself and our family, a dance team jacket and costume had been ordered for Leigha and she was a part of her first competitive dance team! Since then, she has never looked back.

With the support of Scottish Rite Hospital, her dance instructors and her sister Kiana, Leigha now dances with the best of the best! She has lead team dances, won first place with high honors with her solos, received convention scholarships and has been a featured dancer on the Netflix original show, “Dancing Queen.” Leigha’s success is largely due to the amazing and thorough care she receives from the hospital.

We are eternally grateful to Dr. Adams. The team at Scottish Rite Hospital has given our family hope when we were scared. They are thorough with every aspect of her care and took the time to educate us as parents on how to best care for her at home. Leigha also has the confidence to take care of herself and can meet any challenge that comes her way.

Leigha has been able to attend spina bifida camp, which has been a life changer because she realizes she isn’t alone. There are not enough hours in the day for us to give praises to Scottish Rite Hospital. From the bottom of our hearts, we are thankful and appreciative.
 

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? WE WANT TO HEAR IT! SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US.