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.”
