Blog written by Henley’s mom, Lauren.
In January 2022, Henley saw a new pediatrician for her annual well child appointment. At that appointment, she was screened for scoliosis. The pediatrician noticed a curvature in her spine and referred us to a specialist. Unfortunately (or really, fortunately!), the specialist wasn’t taking new patients, and a good friend of ours urged us to visit Scottish Rite for Children.
As a parent, I felt lost, overwhelmed and a little fearful of this new and unknown venture. From the second we stepped in the door at Scottish Rite, we felt like we were at the Ritz-Carlton of hospitals. Everyone was so kind, helpful and accommodating to Henley (and to me, too!). Henley had X-rays and an MRI done, which could be very scary for an 8-year-old, but the staff were incredibly patient and understanding.
Once Henley was diagnosed with scoliosis, she was sent to the Orthotics and Prosthetics department, where she was fitted for a brace. She picked out a pattern for the brace and has been very diligent about wearing it. Henley will continue wearing her brace until she is done growing, so we have many years of care at Scottish Rite in our future! In a time that can be daunting and stressful for families, Scottish Rite has alleviated so much pressure from our family by their kind hearts and helping hands.
Scottish Rite shifted our experience from stressful and daunting to something where we feel confident and supported on our scoliosis journey. When we have appointments, I have nothing to stress about. I know that we will find all the support we need at Scottish Rite with smiling faces. Not only does Henley gets excited to come to her appointments with Dr. Johnson, but also she loves learning about the progress being made from wearing her brace. She loves checking out the fish and getting popcorn, too.
Henley is currently a third grade cheerleader and a Girl Scout Brownie. She is on the UIL Storytelling team and in Junior FFA. In the spring, she’ll play volleyball and join a tumbling class. She adores animals, including her cat Kiki and her labradoodle Tito. In her free time, she loves playing with her little sister Presley and her friends. She also loves reading, drawing and baking!
Cookies & Castles Dallas and Cookies & Castles Frisco have been long-time supporters of Scottish Rite for Children. Both events take place at our campuses in Dallas and Frisco, where friends, families and patients can decorate gingerbread houses while supporting our organization. These events have raised nearly $1 million total for Scottish Rite throughout the years! We’re grateful to the unwavering support of Cookies & Castles, the Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Tri Delta and the North Texas Area Alumnae Chapter of Tri Delta.
