Run to Raise Awareness of
Infantile Scoliosis
by ALEXANDRIA RAPPE
A chance to run or walk while
supporting a great cause is coming
to Fayetteville. The Run for Infantile
Scoliosis is a 5K race happening
June 8.
Progressive Infantile Scoliosis happens
"My maternal instinct was saying
mainly in young children, but there
no. I knew that couldn't be the way to
have been cases where it has affected
go. I needed to find something to help
older children. When the spine curves
my baby," Montoya said.
abnormally it is called scoliosis, but in
By the time she was 2 years old,
little children and babies, it is called
Olivia's spine was already curved at 100
progressive because, if not treated
degrees, which could possibly crush her
properly, it will continue to grow
lungs or heart and end up killing her.
abnormally and surgery is necessary.
Heather jumped through hoops and
Rachel Jacobs, event director, has
sent x-rays all over the world, but all the
personal experience with infantile
doctors she contacted suggested the
scoliosis. Her daughter was diagnosed fusion surgery. Through a few doctors in
with it when she was only 4 months
Colorado she learned of the procedure
old. Jacobs did not opt for surgery.
called halo gravity traction, a procedure
"It doesn't really work, or correct
done in France by Dr. Jean Dubousset.
the spine," she said.
The child is put in a turnbuckle case
Instead she went with the treatment
under anesthesia and a horseshoe shaped
offered by Dr. Min Mehta, a retired
metal bar is placed around the skull, like
orthopedic surgeon from London.
a halo. It is put into place by pins and
The procedure is a cast. The child
weights are attached and slowly increased
is sedated and put on a 3-D casting
to safely straighten the spine. Olivia was
frame. This allows for elongation and
able to receive this treatment. The best
traction when placing the cast around
part? It worked. The curvature of her
the child; it is placed above the hips
spine was cut in half, from 100 degrees
and below the shoulders. The doctor
to 42 degrees. This was only to buy
can correct the rotation by gently
valuable growth time. Olivia has had to
maneuvering the spine with his hand.
go through more casting and a damaging
Children are not confined in the cast;
surgery. This led Montoya to start the
they can still run, play, wear normal
website called infantilescholiosis.com,
diapers and do regular activities. The
knowing there must be more families in
success from this casting method is
the same situation.
unbelievable. Jacob's daughter was
The organization and the race are
put in the cast, making her child one
all about spreading awareness in the
of the youngest children ever. She
community and education. Live music
was then casted every six weeks and
has been planned and there are picnic
she went from a spinal curvature of
benches for relaxing. "A lot of people
41 degrees to just 10. "This literally
have said they were coming. You
is a cure if caught early enough. My
won't regret it if you come out. Your
daughter has it, is still being treated
knowledge and exposure from this can
and has had greater success than we
help someone else," Jacobs said.
could've imagined."
The race is to take place in
"This is me paying it forward-and
Honeycutt Park on Saturday, June
I enjoy running." Jacobs said. All
8 at 8:30 a.m. There is a $20 online
the proceeds will go to the Infantile
registration fee before June 5 and
Scoliosis Outreach Program, a non$25 the day of the race. Race T-shirts
profit organization in Denver, Colo.,
are limited to the first 250 online
that strives to supply resources and
registrants.
information for families with children
To register online visit this website:
of progressive infantile scoliosis.
www.active.com/running/fayettevilleHeather Montoya, another mother
nc/run-for-infantile-scoliosis-2013.
who has been impacted by progressive To find out more about Infantile
infantile scoliosis, founded the
Scoliosis Outreach Program, visit
organization. Her daughter, Olivia,
www.infantilescoliosis.org.
was diagnosed at 5 months in 1998.
The only answer that was given to
her was the standard surgery to fuse
the spine to stop progression. This,
however, is life threatening because it ALEXANDRIA RAPPE, Intern.
causes no room for other vital organs COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomcomto grow in the body.
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JUNE 5-11, 2013
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