Hidden in every seam of a garment is a unique story, as 21-year-old Gabbi would discover. While she has always loved fashion, Gabbi’s appreciation for design would develop in the most unexpected places — from her own scoliosis journey. “I always follow the wise words of Coco Chanel that beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself,” Gabbi says. “Fashion is where individuals can express themselves through their own ideas of creativity.”
At age 15, Gabbi and her family were referred to Scottish Rite for Children for a scoliosis evaluation. Certified physician assistant Jessica Landson, P.A.-C., diagnosed her with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) of the thoracic, or upper spine, region. AIS is the most common form of scoliosis that affects children and teens between the ages of 10 to 18 with no known cause.
In Gabbi’s case, her diagnosis affected more than just her physical well-being. While she had asymmetry in her waist and shoulders, she also developed a sense of body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphia is a mental health symptom that occurs when someone experiences negative emotions and/or hyper focuses on a real or perceived flaw in their appearance.
“Not only was I struggling on the inside, but I also struggled on the outside,” Gabbi says. “I was in constant pain because of how my scoliosis affected my ribs. I felt ‘big’ because of the way my back lumped from my curved spine.”
To correct Gabbi’s curve that had grown to 51 degrees, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Assistant Chief of Staff Brandon A. Ramo, M.D., performed a spinal fusion. The procedure kick-started her healing journey from the inside out, helping not only her condition but also her body dysmorphia.
“My experience at Scottish Rite was incredible,” Gabbi says. “Dr. Ramo is one of my favorite surgeons of all time. He has this calming aura around him, and he made my surgery a breeze in all aspects.”
After surgery, Gabbi explored her passion for fashion through her studies. She majored in apparel design and marketing at the University of Arkansas. For her school’s final project, Gabbi showcased her care journey with scoliosis through fashion in the form of creating a dress.
“The idea of the dress came to me because we had to create something that impacted our lives,” Gabbi says. “The significance of this garment is very important to me because I didn’t know the full extent of my body dysmorphia until after my surgery.”
Gabbi’s project consisted of a long formfitting dress to display the curve of her spine. The garment incorporated personal touches of herself, from the ruffles that represent the preoperative curve of her spine to the green accessories that represent the honorary color of Scoliosis Awareness Month. After a semester of hard work, Gabbi walked down the runway at her school’s fashion show. In that definitive moment, she describes feeling powerful.
“Designing this dress went beyond my everyday love for fashion,” Gabbi says. “I felt like I was bringing light to something that is a struggle behind closed doors. It truly was a life-changing moment because I realized that my journey was not for nothing. I knew that night that this was truly an impact — not just for myself, but others.”
Today, Gabbi is looking forward to where the fashion design industry will take her. She shares that the care she received at Scottish Rite is paramount to building her self-confidence. “Scottish Rite means the world to me,” Gabbi says. “Not only did my care change a physical issue I had, but it changed my life. Scottish Rite helped me become the best version of myself.”
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