A Message for Bert in Australia from another Australian

[Guest guest]

Hi there this is my first time posting so if I dont get it right

sorry.

We live in Country West Australia and have a Seven year old

daughter, Ashleigh, who has a 100+ degree curve. The doctors stop

measuring at 98 degrees 3 years ago.

We have gone through the normal plastic jacket braces that did

nothing, she then got major lung problems then was unable to wear a

brace, however by this time her back was so bad anyway they just

gave up on her and referred us to a different Surgeon for a fusion,

this was a turning point for us as he is great, we were transferred

to an Adult Hospital who deal alot with Scoliosis.

Ashleighs now has a great Orthopedic Surgeon and Orthotist here at

Royal Perth Shenton Park Campus. Instead of just jumping into a

fusion he was looking at Halo Traction for her, however while we

were waiting for Halos & Equipment to come from the US our Orthotist

made up a Specialized Brace for Ashleigh using the old Turn-Buckle

Cast System but in a Plastic Jacket. We were just trying to get a

bit of traction done before the Halo, anyway we have just gone back

after 5 months and the xrays are showing a small improvement, so we

are going to keep at it now until January/Feb when we will look at

Halo Traction for next April/May, when the weather is cooler.

Anyway the reason that this is for Bert in Australia is to let her

know that there is a good doctor here in Western Australia who was

willing to try things out before jumping straight into surgery.

I dont know if they would consider Casting however they are pretty

forward thinking, something to consider.

Gibson