I took Olivia to the doctor today. She had been screened at school for scoliosis. The school called to advise me to have her seen by her regular doctor. They assured me there is nothing to be alarmed about. Her back just seemed a bit abnormal and it should be checked out. When Olivia came home that day I had her lean over and touch her toes. The right side of her back was far higher than the left. I could not believe I had not noticed this before. Olivia told me she was the only girl in the whole class who was singled out to see her doctor.
I really don’t know much about scoliosis. I do know it means you have a curvature of the spine. Depending on the severity of the curvature it is just something to keep an eye on or in more severe cases it might require surgery or wearing a brace. If left untreated you could have great back pain or trouble breathing as well as horrible posture. Two thoughts come to mind when I hear scoliosis – reading a Judy Blume book as a teenager about a girl with this condition. She had to wear a brace that was a horrific looking contraption. The other memory is the 80’s movie “Sixteen Candles” with a nerdy girl trying to get a drink out of the water fountain wearing a brace. I thought it was real funny back then, now not so much. I will not share these images with Olivia. I have no idea how they treat scoliosis now a days. From what I’ve read on the internet, she may only have to wear a brace at night. The doctor took x-rays and should be getting back to us this afternoon or tomorrow. I know how hard the preteen and teen years are. I pray that Olivia will be okay. What ever happens she will be stronger because of it.
