I am trying to raise money to help with expenses that will encure for us during My Son Dairriens Surgery... He has a 92 degree curve to his spine...He is having Spinal Fusion Surgery... Dairrien is 13 years old. He has gone through 3 surgeries and this will be his 4th... I have Included a Picture of Dairrien's Xray of his Back..This is a Side Veiw of Curve in his spine...
When Dairrien was born he was 4 weeks early,you would never know it,as he was 11 pounds at birth(I am a type 1 Diabetic this is why Dairrien was so Large at birth)...He was in the NICU for nearly a month.He came home and it seemed as if things were ok..After he came home,he would scream and cry..I could not sooth him. I didn't know what to do..He would cry and cry as if someone were hurting him..I had no idea he was in pain. As I would take him to his doctor and they would tell me he had gas..All I could do was Listen,they were the doctors right? I now believe that Dairrien was in much pain even as a Infant. I feel Guilty for not pushing the doctors more... When Dairrien was 3 I started to notice a lump growing on his shoulder..I had NO idea what it was,So back to the doctors he went. They actually asked me if I was abusing him? Did he fall? The doctors asked? Did someone yank his arm they asked? I was hounded and hounded until they did the Xray. I am sorry Miss Call the Doctors said. Dairrien is Missing his clavical bone. We are sorry for jumping to conclusions.. Well they referred him to Shriners which was the best thing that could ever of happened..
The doctors there wanted to do an MRI ,they said it was standard in cases where there is a Birth Defect of any sort to rule out any other skeletal deformities..So off he went..
I was not prepared for what came next...
The Doctors said,Dairrien has Congenital Fused cervical vertabrae,Klippel Feil anomoly,Kyphoscoliosis ,shuermann's Kyphosis,and Empty Cella Syndrome.. It broke my heart to hear all of these things were going on with my son..and I was blind to the fact that he had all these and I didnt even know..He looked like a normal child. Throughout the years as he got older all of his conditions became more prounounced,He started slumping forward,leaning to the side,his head tilting to one side,off balance,stumbled as he walked..it has been tough on Dairrien..He has never been able to be like the other kids. Although he wants so desperatly to be like the other kids..Just the simple things in life we all take for granted like Riding a Bike,Is something he has never got to experience. I am praying that by Dairrien having this surgery it may in some small way help him. I really do not know how much.But as the doctor has explained. He needs the surgery,as every year he will become more slumped over. By the time he is 15 he could look like a 90 year old man/woman with oseoporosis. This is what we want to prevent......
So here I am a single mom of 3 boys..So being able to leave our home for up to 14 days is going to be tough..The surgery is paid for through our insurance and Shriners Hospital.. But being a single mom,Money is tight,And I will be leaving my 1 child,and animals in the care of my mother.Who has to take unpaid time off work to take care of my home and child. It will take alot of money to be away from my home for up to 14 days..Gas,lodging and food is my biggest concern,as I will not only have myself to worry about but my youngest son who is autistic will have to go with me..
I have to raise enough Money to help pay for my one child to be left with my mother,Food and extra money in case he needs anything.. And I need to raise enough money to Get to Shriners,and back..Along with enough Food Money to last up to 14 days..we also need to raise money for a follow up appointment that he will have a few weeks after surgery..and anything he needs to take with him to the hospital,back pillows,new set of loose clothing (sweats) for the ride home.. So all of this adds up to an amount that I just do not have!!
His surgery is sceduled for December 30th we have to check in the 29th and his Pre-op is sceduled for November 11th..
So if you know someone who may be able to help ,then please pass on the information
The Sheurmann's is what Dairrien is going in for surgery for..
Scheuermann's kyphosis
Scheuermann's disease is considered a form of juvenile osteochondrosis of the spine. It is found mostly in teenagers and presents a significantly worse deformity than postural kyphosis. Patients suffering with Scheuermann's kyphosis cannot consciously correct their posture. The apex of their curve, located in the thoracic vertebrae, is quite rigid. The sufferer may feel pain at this apex, which can be aggravated by physical activity and by long periods of standing or sitting; this can have a significantly detrimental effect to their lives as their level of activity is curbed by their condition and they may feel isolated or uneasy amongst their peers if they are children, depending on the level of deformity. Also, the decreased level of height will emphasize body fat around the intestines, making the person with Scheuermann's kyphosis seem more heavy-set than normal. This can make children even more uneasy, with a possibility of being harassed by peers, since they appear to be ″fatter″ than other children. Whereas in postural kyphosis the vertebrae and disks appear normal, in Scheuermann's kyphosis they are irregular, often herniated, and wedge shaped over at least three adjacent levels.
The seventh and tenth thoracic vertebrae are most commonly affected. It causes backache and spinal curvature. In very serious cases it may cause internal problems and spinal cord damage. The curvature of the back decreases height, thus putting pressure on internal organs, wearing them out quicker than the natural aging process. A possibility of organ failure increases with long periods of time.
SURGERY----
The surgical procedure partially entails entering two titanium rods, each roughly one and a half feet long, into the back on either side of the spine. Eight titanium screws and hardware are drilled through the bone and secures them in place onto either side of the spine. On the internal-facing side of the spine, ligaments (which can be too short, pulling the spine into the general shape of kyphosis) must be surgically cut or released, not only stopping part of the cause of the kyphosis, but also allowing the titanium rods to pull the spine into a more natural position. Normally, the damaged discs between the troubled vertebrae (wedged vertebrae) are removed and replaced with cartilage from the hip or other parts of the vertebrae, which once healed or 'fused' will solidify. The titanium instrumentation holds everything in place during healing and is not necessary once fusion completes. Recovery begins in the hospital and depending on whether the operation is one or two stage the patient can expect to be in hospital for minimum of a week possibly longer depending on recovery. They will then often be required to wear a brace for several months to ensure the spine heals correctly leaving the patient with the correct posture. The titanium instrumentation can stay in the body permanently, or be removed years later. Patients undergoing surgery for Scheuermann's disease often need physical therapy to manage pain and mobility, patients will struggle with mobility particularly when completing repetitive tasks such as lifting, carrying or exercising this will often last for much or all of their lives.
Thank you for taking the time to Learn More about Dairrien
If you would like to contact me or have any questions,please feel free to email me Lds-mommy@att.net
P.S I cannot respond to comments left,But wanted to thank everyone for helping our family :)
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Anonymous
Good luck, Dairrien... our thoughts and wishes are with you.
Anonymous
Hope all goes well with you and your son!
Ziomara m
Good luck with raising the rest! Hope your son's surgery goes well!
