A Big State, A Big Curve, & Big Answers

One of my favorite things about Maryville City Schools has always been the Fall Break.  They are on somewhat of a modified year-round schedule, which allows for this amazing ten-day or so break in October - my favorite time of the year!  We always look forward to taking some kind of fun, family trip for some of the days, just chilling/relaxing for some of the days, and of course, spending Friday nights supporting the Rebels, and enjoying watching our Graysen as she cheers.

This year was totally different.  Peyton was away at Lee University and had only two days off.  Colton was a freshman at CAK and had the same two days off.

Graysen.  Graysen still cheered for her beloved Red Rebels on Friday night, but before that she and I headed to Austin, Texas for a scoliosis surgery consult.  It was a different fall break for sure, but we were excited.

Graysen and I arrived in Austin on Monday, October 7th.  We found Austin to be very different than we had expected, but a really cool place.  The city's motto is "Keep Austin Weird", and considering how we were spending fall break - we figured we fit right in!

On Tuesday morning, we spent the morning at Dr. Geck's office with Graysen having a series of spine x-rays.  They did x-rays of all sorts: standing, sitting, and bending right, left, and forward.  They also did an interesting x-ray, which I would refer to as an extension x-ray, I guess.  The tech stretched her arms above her head and I stretched her legs in the opposite direction, while Graysen was lying on the table and they took the x-ray.  It cracked us up!

On a side note:  when you visit these offices, who mostly treat children, all of the staff refer to you as "Mom".  I found it quite funny to have a young man in his late 20s continue to call me "Mom".      "Mom, I'm gonna need your help on this one".  "Mom, if you could wear this gown, please".  "Mom, I'm gonna stretch her arms as far as I can now, and you are gonna stretch her legs as far as you can".  "Ok, Mom, great job! Now if you could just go back to the room and wait for us".  "Thanks, Mom".

If I didn't find it so comical, I guess it could have made me feel much older than I really am!:)

Anyway, our next step was to meet with Dr. Geck's patient coordinator, Jacqueline.  Well, she was delightful.  So sweet and patient and kind.  And informative!  She spent the next two hours with us, going over every detail of what would be involved if Graysen chose to have this procedure.  She gave us each a copy of a generously-sized packet of information that she went over page-by-page with us, while also displaying each page on a power-point presentation. To say that this appointment was thorough would be a major understatement.

She spoke directly to me, but more importantly, she spoke directly to Graysen - making sure she understood every little aspect of the information and answering every single question, big or small, in detail.

I can't begin to explain how comforting it was to have the details shared with us in such an informative, caring way.  It was so great to have someone sit with us and explain in such detail the aspects of how the surgery is performed and why, the pre-surgery protocol and why, the expected recovery, limitations, restrictions, advantages, and long-term outcome, and why.

I saw my daughter's face.  She was getting what she needed.  The information.  The answers.  The re-assurance.

She was getting there.

Thank you, God, for leading us.

After our meeting with Jacqueline, Graysen and I headed to another facility for her to have an MRI of her spine.  This MRI gives essential details of Graysen's spine for surgical planning.

It was no fun.

It was freezing in there and it took more than four hours.  It was loud and lying still on her back for that long, made Graysen's back hurt terribly.  She was miserable by the time it was over.  The only good thing about that experience was our very jovial assistant, who would remind you of Santa Clause.

On Wednesday morning, Tim flew down to Austin for our meeting with Dr. Geck.  The three of us went together to Dr. Geck's office where Graysen had a few additional x-rays, we met with his Physican Assistant, and then we finally met the good doctor.

It was quite the meeting.

Dr. Geck came in and introduced himself first to Graysen and then to Tim and I.  He sat down and started going over the details of Graysen's case.  On the screen was the most current standing x-ray of Graysen's spine.

Her curve now measured 45 degrees.  It was progressing.

Again, every detail of Graysen's scoliosis was discussed.  We talked specifically about Graysen's curve.  Unfortunately, it's not the best kind of curve to have.  It's lumbar mostly and it goes very low, which means its complex.  She will need correction from T11 to L3 or L4.  The decision to go as low as L4 is a critical one - it brings with it complications, and Dr. Geck spent a long time discussing this with Tim.

Dr. Geck explained to us the Open and the MISS procedures, how they are performed, the pros, the cons, the criteria for eligibility, the preparation (involving some antibiotic ointment in the nostrils and hibiclens showers!), the hospital stay, the recovery, the restrictions, the expected outcome, the risks, the percentages, etc., etc., etc.  Anything and everything we could think of us to ask or discuss, Dr. Geck answered and spent more than ample time explaining to us.

Tim and I both brought with us to this meeting a list of questions to ask.  Every single question was answered.  Most without us even asking them.  We went over every question and concern that the three of us had.

And then that one question.  The one that is so important to us.  The one we always ask and consider so essential.

Tim said, "I have to ask you something".

"If this was your daughter, what would you do?".

Dr. Geck said, (while looking at Graysen - which totally impressed me),

"I have two little girls myself, and without a doubt, I would do this surgery, if this was one of them.  There is no question that your daughter needs this surgery and that it will improve her life.  Absolutely, it is the right thing to do."

Now, that's what I call an answer.

Tim, Graysen, and I looked at each other and just nodded.  We were good.

Over two hours.  This renowned doctor spent over two hours with us.  It was time for the meeting to end, and, astoundingly, I was the one who did that.  There was nothing left to say.  I had never been to such an in-depth, thorough doctor's appointment in my life!  I finally looked at him and said, "Okay, thank you so much."  We all stood, shook hands, and he left the room.

Impressive, to say the least.

Graysen, Tim, and I left the office feeling informed, cared for, confident, and much more at peace about facing scoliosis surgery.

We knew in our hearts that God had led us to Austin and to Dr. Geck.  Now we knew why.

We had our answers.


Graysen.  Graysen is the one with scoliosis.  Graysen is the one in pain.  Graysen is the one sleeping on a heating pad and taking motrin or tylenol everyday of her life.  Graysen is the one who has to have surgery.  Graysen is the one who's heart's desire is to move to Nashville and start college two months after major surgery.  She is the one who has to live with rods and screws in her back for the rest of her life. Graysen is the one who will live with restrictions and limitations if she makes this choice.  Only she can decide if the pros outweigh the cons.

And that's where we left it.  This is Graysen.  She is the one who has to do this.
Graysen is the one who has to have peace and confidence.  She is only one who could make the  decision.


And she did.

So, we made a plan.



Just a few weeks after our appointments with Dr. Geck and his staff, we made a plan.  We scheduled Graysen's surgery.

Thursday, May 29, 2014.

Graysen is now 18 years old and ready to climb this mountain.

Just landed in Austin and Daddy called to tell her she got her acceptance letter from Lipscomb. Oh, happy day!

Ready for dinner in Austin:)

Graysen was loving the green shorts they made her wear for her x-rays!

Loved this place for breakfast

FREEZING!

Time for her MRI

So excited to meet Dr. Geck!

More cute shorts...

Graysen's back on October 7, 2014.

45 degree curve

"Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."          James 1:2-4