Giving Grace: Patient with Scoliosis Showcases Talents

As the hot summer months melted into cooler fall days, Grace busily worked to create rainbow loom bracelets and watercolor paintings.

The 8-year-old had soaked in every bit of knowledge that an entrepreneurship camp she attended had provided, and soon an upcoming fall fair in her Charlotte, North Carolina, neighborhood would be the perfect place to show off her newly-gained business savvy.

“I said to her, ‘You are such a great artist,” Erica, Grace's mom, said. “‘I really think people might want to buy some of your art.’”

While making plenty of inventory for her pop-up shop, Grace readied herself to speak to her future customers about the philanthropic cause that would benefit from the sale of her collection of creative wares – Shriners Children’s Greenville.

“Grace can be shy, so beyond raising money for the hospital, this was a wonderful opportunity for her to practice engaging with adults,” Erica said. “She rehearsed what she would say to her customers about what the hospital does – and about her story.” Her story began seven years ago when she was diagnosed with a rare bone disorder that causes curvature of her spine.

Not yet 2 years old, Grace was referred to Shriners Children’s Greenville by her orthopedist in Charlotte who knew about the world-class treatment available for infantile scoliosis in the neighboring South Carolina city.

Treatment for Grace began with Mehta casting – a series of casts applied to the patient’s mid-section keeping the spine straight. As the patient grows, casts are removed and then reapplied to accommodate the infant or toddlers growing body. In some cases, the approach corrects the early onset of scoliosis; however, for Grace, its purpose is to steady her spine for a longer-term treatment plan.

“We’ve always known that surgical intervention would eventually be necessary,” Erica said. “After a few rounds of Mehta casting, we moved on to a removable brace. The idea is to keep her stable as long as possible so she can grow bigger and stronger before surgery becomes the next step.”

Thanks to remarkable consistency wearing her brace, Grace’s curve has experienced minimal change for the past few years, and she remains pain-free. This has allowed Grace, her medical team and her parents the ability to wait until she is ready physically and emotionally for surgery and recovery. When the time comes, it is a decision that will be made together.

At the neighborhood fair, the young entrepreneur confidently shared her personal story and her philanthropic mission – just like she had practiced. As a result, rainbow looms priced at $1 flew off her shelves, with some shoppers generously offering $50.

For the little girl whose life is being shaped and strengthened by the care she receives at Shriners Children’s, the money raised means far more than a number. It’s a celebration of courage, creativity and a spirit determined to give back.