It is with the greatest hope for help that I tell the heart-breaking story of my twelve year old niece, Riley. Riley’s visit to her Granny in January this year changed our lives forever.
Walking behind Riley we noticed that she was walking with a limp and that her right shoulder had dropped and seemed to be jutting out.
Riley’s mother lost her job of nine years’ service and has struggled to find permanent employment since. Unemployed and with no financial means or private healthcare she agreed to the family stepping in. After much investigation and calls, we were blessed to receive an appointment with Dr Koos Louw, a specialist orthopaedic surgeon in Pretoria.
Dr Koos Louw informed us that a normal spine from a frontal view would show a zero degree curvature. Riley had two curvatures of 104 and 100 degrees respectively and was suffering from a severe scoliosis deformity. The severity of Riley’s scoliosis could continue to deteriorate by 20-30 degrees within two to three months.
Dr Louw continued to explain the various procedures that included fusions and the utilisation of instrumentation for a spinal correction such as Riley’s. He mentioned that we would be looking at around a million rand for the procedure. At the time the cost seemed irrelevant. It was just a number. I was still struggling with the enormity of the situation and all I could think of, was the pain that Riley would have to endure.
My mind was reeling with emotions of helplessness, guilt, shock, and the inconceivable reality that Riley had been living with discomfort and pain from this deformity.
Riley was absolutely distraught….the severity of her x-rays and report were devastating to say the least
She was heartbroken……and all we could do, was hold her as we wiped her tears away
A brave but self-conscious little girl that has suffered quietly with the changes in her body, not allowing anyone to see her deformity until recently. Riley lives with pain and discomfort daily, unable to sit or stand for too long, she tires quickly. She walks with a gait, as the right side of body continues to shorten and the effects of the scoliosis increase the pressure on her organs.
The compression from the scoliosis on Riley’s heart and lungs will become life threatening if not operated on, causing heart or respiratory failure.
Leaving the doctors room that day, I hugged Riley and told her how much we all loved her and that we would do everything possible to raise the money needed for her emergency operation and that at the end of this journey, she would stand upright with confidence and feel so much better.
Please help me keep the promise I made to my niece. She’s just a baby and has her whole life ahead of her. Riley desperately needs your help and any donations will bring us a step closer to saving her life.
Thank you to everyone who’s sent their love, support and prayers to our family since we received Riley’s diagnosis.
Just by reading and sharing Riley’s story, you’re helping her….
Thank you and God Bless You for your contribution towards Riley’s medical treatment.
To find out more details, kindly email us info@hopetoheal.org.za or contact Lorraine on 082 495 0464