2023 – LJ Resurreccion
Lorie Jane “LJ” Resurreccion from the Philippines, was cleared and received corrective spine surgery for severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis on February 23, 2023. It was a success with no complications. Her surgeon, Dr. Matthew Geck of Texas Spine and Scoliosis, performed the operation at Ascension Dell Children’s Medical Center. She received custom Medtronic rods for this procedure. SpineHope is grateful to all who made this spine journey possible for her.
• ASCENSION DELL CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER OF CENTRAL TEXAS & PRE-OP/OR/POST-OP CARE TEAMS
• SPINE SURGEON, DR. MATTHEW GECK & TEAM AT TEXAS SPINE & SCOLIOSIS
• TEAM AT US ANESTHESIA PARTNERS (USAP)
• WHITNEY SCURLOCK & MEDTRONIC IMPLANT/PRODUCT TEAM
• BRIDGES GORDY & NUVASIVE NEUROMONITORING
• JESSY FAULKNER (IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY)
• ARA DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
• DR. ELENA RUIZ & BEE CAVES PEDIATRICS
• INGRID VILLARREAL (VOLUNTEER & PATIENT ADVOCATE)
• THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CENTRAL TEXAS
• LJ’S SPONSORS – ALL WHO DONATED DURING
THE 2022 WALK TALL BENEFIT…YOU MADE THIS POSSIBLE!
A loving mother’s original plea…My daughter LJ’s scoliosis journey and struggles began at the tender age of 13 when she was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis. With a curve of 45 degrees, she was advised to wear a back brace for almost 24 hours every single day. The brace was uncomfortable and required her to wear a lot of clothes to cover it. Lorie felt like a robot with her restricted movement. Having to walk 20 minutes to school and carry a heavy backpack, she experienced a lot of discomfort including sweating, skin rashes, itchiness, and prickly heat. Over the next five years, the brace did not keep the deformity from progressing and physical therapy did not alleviate the pain or numbness.
Her deformity has negatively impacted her physically, mentally, and emotionally. Her family does their best to cheer her up when she feels depressed and encourages her to stay positive. As her mother, it breaks my heart to witness all her struggles, pain, and sorrow. She has suffered for so many years with this deformity.
Now at the age of 20, her x-ray measures a curve over 70 degrees. She often complains of pain, fatigue, numbness, and sometimes shortness of breath whenever using stairs. This impacts her studies. Our hopes for treatment for Lorie were fading until we heard back on our application to the SpineHope program. Lorie applied after being inspired by other SpineHope patients, seeing their successful recoveries, straighter spines, and all returning home with boosted self-confidence and self-esteem.
On behalf of my family, we would like to say thank donors who are saving lives and giving children brighter futures. You are helping poor children, like my daughter, walk taller! – Carmen B. Resurreccion