Liliana’s scoliosis journey is a wonderful example of dedication, family support, and a positive attitude. Recently, Liliana’s mom, Summer, shared their family’s personal experience navigating her diagnosis and treatment:
“When Liliana was 10 years old and had her annual checkup, the pediatrician noticed what she thought was a low-grade curve. We soon followed up with a specialist and were surprised when the X-ray revealed an almost 40-degree curve at the bottom of an S-curve. National Scoliosis Center made us feel hopeful that the curves could be addressed and treated with a brace, rather than surgery.
We were initially overwhelmed about her wearing it for 22 hours a day, but Liliana was determined to follow the advice and, as a result, had a great payoff at each check-in. Over the years, she had three different braces, giving each one a nickname that made the experience more personal and easier to accept as part of her everyday life. Having scoliosis didn’t prevent her from participating in sports such as soccer, gymnastics, and basketball. She used practices and game times as her ‘brace breaks.'”
Bracing requires real commitment, and Liliana met every challenge head-on. Because of her steady progress, her treatment plan was able to adapt as her spine improved. Her mom continues:
“Due to Liliana’s commitment and great progress in improving her curves, after about two years, she was able to reduce her wear time, eventually wearing it only at night during the fourth and final year of bracing. It was not without challenges, like being limited in her clothing options and dealing with occasional comments at school. However, her friends and family were very supportive and proud of her perseverance in completing the journey.”
Now, five months after officially finishing her bracing treatment, Liliana’s latest X-rays show that her spine is stable, yielding a remarkable final result.
“After five months of being finished with the brace, her curves had not changed at all from the last X-ray, and what was once almost 40 degrees is now only 6 degrees! We couldn’t be prouder of Liliana, and are so pleased with the top-notch care and guidance provided to us during the last four years with National Scoliosis Center.”
Our entire team at National Scoliosis Center is incredibly honored to have been a part of Liliana’s journey. Watching her cross the finish line with a 6-degree curve is exactly why we do what we do.
Congratulations, Liliana, on your hard work and incredible success!