Day 4: Meet Megan

There are six of us here at the CLEAR Institute, affectionately called back camp. We all have different backgrounds, different stories, different curve types, different curve severities, and different treatment plans. But we have all been given this opportunity to be here together.

There's a pair of 13 year old twin girls whose mom sits with them through the day; there's a fourteen year old boy named Nick; there's me; there's Zach, an 18 year old competitive swimmer on a scholarship; then, there's Megan.

Megan is a rising high school freshman from Wisconsin with pretty blonde hair and freckles. She too, has severe scoliosis. And like me, CLEAR was her last resort. 

The majority of parents turn to CLEAR as the last step, the desperate measure before an inevitable surgery. To some, like me, surgery is looming. To others, like Megan, surgery is imminent. In fact, Megan had surgery scheduled. For two days ago.

At the beginning of back camp her curve measured at a 52. The second day showed it down to 40 degrees. Surgery is no longer necessary, and may not even happen anymore. Instead of living the rest of her life with a titanium rod down her spine, this pretty little fourteen year old will just get to live: live however she wants with no constraints or restrictions.

This is the story for many of the families that come through here; what initially was an act of desperation becomes the final treatment solution. As long as Megan's 40 stays stable, she could live without any more treatment for the rest of her life. However, there are more Megans out there. There are patients everyday undergoing spinal fusion surgery, accepting the risk of infection or even paralysis, and completely changing their life.

Megan was the lucky one, she got to come here. Tuesday morning at the time booked for the OR she was watching The Sandlot in the traction chair, not under heavy anesthesia. Her family is working on a website to share her story, and spread the message that surgery isn't the only answer. So hopefully, in the future, there will be more little girls with stories more like our Megan's.