From One Parent to Another: A Mom Reflects on Her Daughter’s Scoliosis Journey
Savannah and Tracy take a selfie together.
In 2024, when 10-year-old Savannah kept coming home from school out of breath, her parents, Tracy and Brad, decided to take her to the doctor.
Thinking she might have asthma or COVID, the family physician ordered a chest X-ray, which revealed a major surprise.
“The technician saw something on the screen and asked if Savannah had been diagnosed with scoliosis,” Tracy said. “I said no. Then I called my family doctor, and they just said, ‘The chest X‑ray looks fine. We’ll just retest in a year.’”
Because Savannah previously had her flat feet treated at Shriners Children’s Erie, Tracy didn’t hesitate to make an appointment at the hospital to get to the bottom of her daughter’s condition. Sure enough, after doing a full scan, the multidisciplinary team at the Pennsylvania hospital – led by Ozgur Dede, M.D., and Hannah Clark, MS, CPO – confirmed that Savannah has scoliosis, a condition in which a child’s spine curves in a C or S shape. Her curve measured 48 degrees, and she has been wearing a corrective brace since then.
It's been a big adjustment for the family, who live in Atlantic, Pennsylvania, but they take it day by day. When Savannah first returned home with her brace, Tracy and Brad set up a slumber party with her friends so she could introduce the orthotic and demystify the condition. The 12-year-old is also a Patient Ambassador at Shriners Children’s Erie, helping to fundraise for the nonprofit healthcare system and mentor other patients. Savannah even wrote to Gov. Josh Shapiro about scoliosis awareness, and he responded by recognizing June as Scoliosis Awareness Month in a special proclamation.
Now, two years into Savannah’s scoliosis journey, Tracy looks back on the experience so far and shares her hard-won wisdom with other parents facing the same diagnosis.
Savannah meets another Patient Ambassador at a Shriners Children’s Erie event.
A scoliosis diagnosis is scary, but you and your child will persevere.
You’ll find out you’re braver than you think. Learn as much as you can. Find support. Talk to your child. You will get through it and someday look back and say, “Wow, I made it.” Scoliosis isn’t a bad thing. There’s purpose in everything. You’ll come out stronger.
Find the silver lining.
In the beginning, it was very hard. I’d sit on the bathroom floor crying, thinking about rods and screws in Savannah’s back and worrying she’d resent me someday if she needed surgery. I eventually decided something good had to come out of this. I’ve poured myself into sharing about Shriners and scoliosis.
Shriners Children’s will make you feel supported.
Shriners has been amazing – so much information, support, resources – so you don’t feel alone. I worried we’d get the brace and they’d disappear for six months, but they really care.
Life with scoliosis is different, but some things don’t change.
Savannah still does everything: rides horses, does cartwheels, shows pigs for 4‑H. She’s still a kid. The brace won’t be forever – probably until she’s done growing, around age 16. But you never stop having scoliosis. We remind ourselves at checkups: It won’t ever be zero. Don’t expect zero.
There will be tough times, but you’ll get through them.
The hardest times were bedtime at the beginning. The brace would catch on her ribs, and she’d cry: “Why am I different?” We reassure her constantly that we’re giving this everything we can.
Shriners Children’s specialists are highly experienced in scoliosis.
They specialize in kids. They see this all the time. I’d rather be somewhere that handles hundreds of cases, not just a few a year. And the environment is so welcoming, kid‑friendly, not intimidating. They have events and activities that make families feel supported year‑round.
Fundraising and advocacy can lift your child’s spirits.
It makes her feel part of something. Less alone. People reach out and tell her they’re proud of her. It boosts her confidence. With so much negativity in the world, I want her to learn positivity and resilience.
Helping other kids can impact your child’s journey.
Savannah talks to other kids with such maturity. She understands what it means to be different and makes other kids feel seen. She’s only 12, but she’s so kind and thoughtful. She’s making the most of it.
An X-ray of Savannah’s spine shows how bracing has helped correct her curvature.
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