From the moment patients and their families walk through the doors of Scottish Rite for Children, they find more than just outstanding pediatric orthopedic treatment. They immediately enter a culture of care, just like 2-year-old Bo and his family did.
At 3-months-old, Bo and his family came to Scottish Rite for his diagnosis of sacral agenesis and clubfeet. Sacral agenesis, a rare type of spina bifida, is a condition which occurs when the lower spine around the tailbone, or sacrum, does not fully develop. This condition can affect a child’s legs, lower back, and digestive and urinary tract. He also has clubfeet, which means his feet were severely turned inward and pointed downward at birth.
Bo’s care team consists of multidisciplinary experts from Scottish Rite’s Spina Bifida Program. This team includes experts from Developmental Pediatrics, Neurosurgery, Urology, Orthopedics, Physical Therapy, and Orthotics & Prosthetics, among others to give Bo holistic care for his every individual need.
For his clubfeet, Bo’s care is led by Megan E. Johnson, M.D. — medical director of Ambulatory Care, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and program director of the Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis.
“One of my favorite things is to see how my son’s doctors and care team members treat him,” says Katherine, Bo’s mother. “They always remember who he is, and they even treat him like a celebrity. They never make us feel like he is another patient.”
Together, Bo’s care team collaborates to provide him with a wide variety of treatment. To correct his clubfeet, orthotists created custom ankle-foot orthoses, which are assistive devices used to stabilize the foot and ankle. This year, he received his first ever wheelchair, which was adjusted to allow him to mobilize more independently.
“Our overall experience is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” Katherine says. “Every single person at Scottish Rite is so amazing. You feel like you’re at home. You are somebody at Scottish Rite, and they truly show that they love my son.”
While Bo’s care journey is just beginning, he is on the right track. With his care team and family supporting him, Bo continues to make more improvements in navigating his conditions outside of the clinic. Now, his family shares that Bo’s favorite activities are wheeling around in his wheelchair and being the best big brother possible.
“For Bo, Scottish Rite for Children is a place where he can see children like him and be himself,” Katherine says. “For me, it means my son is getting the best care possible.”
