A patient stands in an exam room holding a scoliosis brace decorated with colorful patterns and purple straps. The patient wears a white sleeveless top, pink headband and light-colored skirt, while standing near a height-measuring scale mounted beside a wooden door.

Two Teen Girls, Two New Back Braces for Scoliosis

Sep 30, 2026

Two Chicago 13-year-old girls went from not knowing they had scoliosis to wearing back braces during summer break.

“Idiopathic scoliosis is a curvature of the spine with no known cause or underlying disease. It’s often discovered during teenage growth spurts, which occur after the age of 10,” said pediatric orthopedic surgeon John Ghazi, M.D.

Anissa had complained about severe unexplained back pain for years.

“Sometimes when it would hurt my back, I would have to sit out from certain activities I do,” said Anissa. After she was diagnosed with scoliosis, her family brought her to the pediatric spine team at Shriners Children’s Chicago.

Anissa has a 22-degree spinal curve. She will wear a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) brace, which is designed to prevent or slow the progression of spinal curvature, only at night. She squealed with excitement when she first saw her new brace in a pattern she chose: “I’m excited, it’s so pretty!”

A patient stands in a hospital hallway wearing a pink-and-white scoliosis brace over a white tank top and black shorts. The patient forms a heart shape with their hands while facing the camera. — Nora shows her love for her new back brace.

Her older sister, Aviva, hopes the brace will start to ease her sibling’s aches and pains. “We would have normal fun; she would be jumping up and down and then ten seconds later she would be talking about her aching back,” said Aviva.

While both girls are being treated for scoliosis, Nora faces a more significant curve. As a result, her treatment plan requires more extensive brace wear. She will wear her pink brace, called a Boston TLSO, for 20 hours a day. Both girls received their custom braces from our hospital’s convenient on-site Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) clinic.

“The brace isn’t that scary, just takes a little getting used to,” said Nora.

Both girls will likely continue bracing until they are finished growing to help prevent their curves from progressing.

Shriners Children’s pediatric orthopedic surgeons treat more than 10,000 patients with scoliosis every year, across our healthcare system. Care for most teenagers, like these two, starts with a brace and sometimes progresses to surgery.

“I’m happy that we are going down this path of less invasive first, see how it goes,” said Nora’s mom, Kristin. “I think there’s just peace of mind, being with Shriners Children’s.”

Two Teen Girls, Two New Scoliosis Braces

Two 13-year-old girls, Anissa and Nora, were recently diagnosed with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) and both are excited about their new back braces. They are just two of the more than 10,000 scoliosis patients that are cared for by pediatric orthopedic surgeons throughout the Shriners Children's healthcare system. John Ghazi, MD explains that AIS is a curvature of the spine with no known cause or underlying disease. It is often discovered during teenage growth spurts after the age of 10.

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[Shriners Children's Chicago Logo] Narrator: Two 13-year-old girls, two new scoliosis braces, one similar attitude.

Anissa: Don't let it um discourage you to do anything you want to do.

Nora: The brace isn't that scary. Just takes a little getting used to.

Narrator: Anissa can hardly contain herself.

Anissa: It's so pretty.

Anissa: This is my first time getting a bag and I love it so much.

Speaker: Arms up for me.

Narrator: Anissa had unexplained severe back pain. After she was diagnosed with scoliosis, her family brought her to Shriner's Children's pediatric spine team.

Anissa: Sometimes when it would hurt my back, I will have to sit out from certain activities I do.

Narrator: She will wear her new brace only at night to manage a 22-degree curve in her spine.

Shriners Children's Logo; John Ghazi, MD; Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon: The most common is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, [music] which occurs after the age of 10.

Narrator: Pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Gazi says idiopathic scoliosis is a curvature of the spine with no known cause or underlying disease. It's often discovered during teenage growth spurts. Dr. Gazi shows us Anissa's X-ray.

John Ghazi, MD: So, she has this left thoracic-lumbar curve and then when she's in her brace, it corrects that curve.

Nora: I really hopeI get the pink striped one.

Narrator: Nora received her brace from her hospital's on-site POPS clinic. She will wear her pretty and pink brace for 20 hours every day.

Nora: It's not that bad right now, but it's also like my first ever time.

Narrator: Kids with idiopathic scoliosis typically wear braces to manage their curve until they're done growing.

Nora: It's a little like tight [music] and might take some getting used to.

Narrator: Shriner's Children's Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons treat more than 10,000 patients with scoliosis every year across our health care system. The care for most teens like these two starts with a brace and sometimes progresses to surgery.

Shriners Children's Logo; Kristin; Nora's Mom: There's just a peace of [music] mind that has come with being a Shrine nurse.

Nora and Anissa Receive Their New Braces

These friends will wear their braces throughout adolescence.

A patient stands in a hospital hallway wearing a pink-and-white scoliosis brace over a white tank top. The patient poses with hands on their hips, while colorful wall accents, handrails and a fire extinguisher cabinet line the corridor.

Nora tries on her scoliosis brace on the first day of her treatment.

A patient stands in an exam room holding a scoliosis brace decorated with colorful patterns while flexing both arms.

Anissa is feeling strong after receiving her back brace.

A patient stands in a large event hall holding a Shriners Children’s brochure about scoliosis bracing. The patient wears a bright yellow hoodie and displays the brochure toward the camera, with rows of chairs and event attendees visible in the background. The brochure includes photos and information about scoliosis treatment, highlighting the patient's connection to orthopedic care and advocacy.

Nora displays her story from the conference booth at Higgy Con 2026.

Higgy Con 2026 - Meet our Shriners Children's Chicago Patients in Attendance

This year's Higgy Con, an annual convention for kids and families dealing with scoliosis, drew a crowd of more than 800. In attendance were many Shriners Children's Chicago patients! Higgy Con was co-sponsored by Shriners Children's.

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Speaker 1:
This is my fourth Higgy time. It's so much fun. I've met so many of my closest friends here.

Speaker 2:
The vibe is very friendly, and it just feels comfortable around here.

Speaker 3:
It's so fun. I love it. I'm so glad we came. It's amazing. I got to meet so many new people.

Speaker 4:
I'm friends with all of the girls in my session, but I made one really, really close friend and her name is Izzy.

Speaker 5:
I feel like everyone relates, and everyone's in the same situation.

Speaker 3:
I'm not alone, which I knew, but it feels more real when you see it in person.

Speaker 6:
I don't care if they have a brace or a fusion; I just want to meet more people.

I really like Shriners. The staff is very nice.

Speaker 4:
That's also a very good community, and everyone there is so nice, and they make it not scary at all.

Speaker 2:
I want to be a surgeon. I want to be able to help other kids like how Dr. Gupta helped me.

Higgy Con 2026 - Dr. Gupta Speaks with Parents and Patients

Pediatric Spine Surgeon and Chief of Staff, Purnendu Gupta, M.D., was a keynote speaker at this year’s Higgy Con, an annual convention for kids and families dealing with scoliosis. The event brought together more than 800 participants and was co-sponsored by Shriners Children's.

Higgy Con 2026 - Spine Nurse Linda Leads Patient Sessions

Pediatric Spine Nurse Linda Cree, RN, has been to all four years of Higgy Con, an annual convention for kids and families dealing with scoliosis. Nurse Linda led numerous sessions for kids in attendance, answering their questions about treatment options and listening to their journeys.
The event held in Grand Rapids, MI was co-sponsored by Shriners Children's.

View Transcript

Linda Cree, RN: Kids will come and say I belong here.

Speaker: For Shriner's Children's Chicago spine nurse, Linda Cree, this is her fourth Higgy Con, a scoliosis convention for kids and their families.

[Shriners Children's logo; Linder Cree, RN; Spine Nurse] It lets you move. So what it does is, as you grow, the curve is on this side.

I'm talking to parents and kids about surgery, about scoliosis, their journeys. If I can help a family or [music] educate them and tell them it's okay. Parents need reassurance. They are doing the right thing.

Speaker: Over the years, nurse Linda says the questions she hears from parents [music] have changed.

Linda Cree, RN: They're looking at social media as like their go-to or Google. [music] They need to look at the physician and the nurse and the PA for their [music] advice. They like hook in. Then further down, we use the screws.

Speaker: Shriners Children's is a co-sponsor of Higgy Con. This year, more than 800 participants enjoyed fun and learning together about their spine curves.

Linda Cree, RN: It's because you're not alone in the out in the real world. You feel alone. Here, you don't.

Excellence in Care

10,000

number of scoliosis patients treated every year BY Shriners Children's

Average age when Idiopathic scoliosis appears in Children

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