Idaho mom goes the distance to help teen with scoliosis

“You want a hospital with the best technology and the best nurses and doctors in the country. You expect that, and you expect it to be clean. Boston Children’s has all of that,” says Lisa Findlay, a mom from Hayden, Idaho. “What made the difference was how much everyone loves these kids. Everyone who walked into Aaron’s room, from the surgeons to nurses’ aides to janitors and child life specialists, was on a mission to help Aaron.” From the time he was born, Aaron encountered one medical challenge after another. He was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a serious congenital heart defect. By the time he was three years old, Aaron had undergone three surgeries, suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with Factor V Leiden, a blood clot disorder. The stroke left him confined to a wheelchair and caused cognitive impairment. Aaron also developed severe scoliosis. By age 16, he was a veteran of children’s hospitals from Washington to Texas. Scoliosis sparks a turning point Despite everything, Aaron thrived. He grew to love four-wheeling, building model train layouts and cooking. Yet, adolescence brought his most serious challenge. His scoliosis progressed to the point where it was affecting his heart and lungs, which were already compromised because of Aaron’s heart condition. He was in excruciating pain. He couldn’t attend school or do the activities that he loved. Even four-wheeling was too much for him because he couldn’t sit up. His parents t...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Orthopedics Our patients’ stories Source Type: news