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When Dr. Kevin Neal, a Nemours’ Pediatric Orthopedic surgeon, told 15-year-old Patrick Simon and his parents, Lisa and Tony, that he “promised he would do a good job,” they trusted him implicitly. This “good job” meant that Patrick would have titanium screws, clamps, and two rods strategically placed along his spine; posterior fusion of 12 thoracic and lumbar vertebrae; and a scar from his shoulder blades to his waist.
The fact that Patrick needed this major surgery at Wolfson Children’s Hospital for adolescent scoliosis was something that never occurred to the Simons the year before.
Being at Wolfson would be a life-changing experience.
Although mom Lisa and their daughter suffer slightly from scoliosis, the sudden onset of scoliosis in Patrick at age 14 caught them all by surprise. Patrick especially loved soccer and skateboarding. The parents realized that their son had stopped skateboarding and was limiting his soccer, but they just thought he was being a teenager and that his zeal for the sports had changed. They never realized that Patrick was truly suffering with back pain and that his spine had begun to dangerously curve.
Referred initially to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Patrick got one brace and then another, but neither worked. The curvature in Patrick’s spine was progressing quickly more than 50° within the year and his deformity rapidly becoming more severe. It became very clear that surgical intervention would be necessary, and so Patrick was referred to Dr. Neal.
The cause of scoliosis is often unknown, especially if the spine was originally straight, as in Patrick’s case. One reason for Patrick’s might have been his huge, summer growth spurt of more than six inches. Another challenge was that since Patrick was close to the end of his growth cycle, his bones were quickly becoming hardened and his curvature rigid. Both meant that his surgical correction might not be as successful as they hoped and prayed it would be.
Although Lisa had read extensively to prepare for what Patrick would go through, the initial days of recovery were tough. On the night of his surgery, his morphine pump was not working and for five hours Patrick was in pain. Fortunately, his two PICU nurses realized the problem, stayed by his side the whole time and took exceptional care of him; they also kept the whole family calm. “Everyone at Wolfson was extremely friendly and willing to answer any and all questions. Patrick received outstanding treatment, and Dr. Neal put us all at ease,” expressed Lisa.
Today, most people don’t even know that Patrick has scoliosis. Patrick was able to return to Paxon High within a few days of the start of his classes this past Fall. Most importantly, his pain is gone and within two months of surgery, Patrick was fully engaged in the sports he loves - basketball, football, volleyball - all “with care.” |
