Shriners Children’s St. Louis Impacts Two Generations of Spine Patients

Receiving world-class scoliosis care is a family affair for Traci and her son, Rumer.

Thanks to their unique connection, Traci is passionate about the generational impact Shriners Children's St. Louis has made on their family.

With a 55-degree curve in her spine, Traci underwent spinal fusion surgery at Shriners Children’s St. Louis 25 years ago. Years later, she encountered another case of scoliosis near and dear to her heart. Traci’s son, Rumer, was 5 years old when an X-ray revealed a slight curve in his spine.

“My heart sank,” Traci said.

Rumer was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine caused by a defect present at birth. In Rumer’s case, the bones in his spine did not fully form and separate in the womb.

As he continued to grow, so did his discomfort. In Rumer’s early teens, his scoliosis progressed rapidly, and his curve increased from 10 to 63.6 degrees. In search of a solution, his family sought the best pediatric spine care available.

However, as they sought help from a multitude of doctors, Traci left feeling disheartened. “As a parent, you just know when something doesn’t feel right. You trust your gut when it comes to your child’s well-being. But with each consultation, that feeling of confidence never came. I refused to settle,” Traci said.