At the start of April, 12-year-old Brooklyn Powless complained to her mother Elinda Trower that her back was hurting. Assuming it was simply a pulled muscle for an active adolescent, Trower didn't believe it was anything too serious. Then, she noticed that Powless's spine was beginning to curve.
In May, Powless was diagnosed with Scoliosis and Spina Bifida Occulta.
Spina Bifida Occulta is a condition in which a vertebra, typically in the lower back, doesn't fuse completely, according to Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland (SBHI). It is considered the most common form of Spina Bifida and isn't typically severe, however about 2 percent diagnosed with Occulta can have serious spine problems, according to SBHI.
Spina Bifida occurs during the first month of embryonic development and can be caused by a lack of folic acid, a B vitamin, during pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately 1,500 infants are diagnosed with Spina Bifida in the U.S.
Powless's L5 vertebra did not completely form, which may have been a contributing factor to her Scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine. Both have caused her lower-back pain and pain between her shoulder blades. Doctors told Trower that once the curvature of the spine hits 50 degrees it begins to curve more rapidly and will eventually cause numbness and tingling in extremities. Once the curvature exceeds 60 degrees, pressure on the nerves can cause a loss of sensation and eventually damage internal organs.
The top curve of Powless's spine is at 59 degrees, the bottom curve has reached 61. Without surgery, Powless would be in a wheelchair within a year.
"I wish my school still checked for scoliosis because then I could use a brace instead of a scalpel to fix my back," Powless said. "There could be more people like me at my school and they would have to go under the knife too."
Scoliosis, which the National Scoliosis Foundation estimates to affect 7 million people in the U.S., typically develops during the growth spurt prior to puberty and while most cases remain mild, some require corrective surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. Powless, who has a double curvature in her spine will undergo surgery June 23, during which her spine will be fused from the vertebrae in her neck down to her sacrum at the base of her spine.
Trower was told her daughter's total recovery time could take up to six months.
Trower, who is a nurse at Fulton Presbyterian Manor, plans to take several weeks off from work to help her daughter recover following the surgery. However, Trower will not receive pay for her time away from work and has only four weeks to prepare for the surgery.
"My biggest stress is making sure there's food on the table and a roof over our heads while I take care of her," Trower said. "I'm more worried about making sure we don't become homeless."
Katy Flowers, a family friend, is hosting a BBQ fundraising event June 13 to help raise money for Trower's family while Prowless recovers. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Flowers and friends will hand out hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and water at the old Moser's parking lot.
Flowers hasn't received donations to help fund the BBQ, but neighbors have offered to man the grill and provide baked goods during the course of the fundraiser. Although the event was meant to be a surprise, Trower learned about the event and is incredibly thankful for those who have already provided support, she said.
Trower has also set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for Prowless's medical bills and the cost of a TempurPedic mattress, which will relieve some of the pressure on Prowless's spine while she recovers.
Those interested in donating can attend the fundraiser or donate to help Prowless on the GoFundMe page at http://www.gofundme.com/brooklynjayde.