Hard work pays off

This post is a little late but better late than never.

And never did I ever expected to get my curves down below 10 degrees. After 2 more weeks at the CLEAR Institute my top curve is now 6 degrees! When I started the treatment it was 39 degrees. A curve under 10 degrees is not considered Scoliosis. I only have 6 degrees until I am perfectly straight.

The bottom curve is now 29 degrees and it started at 57.

This is more than 50% reduction in under a year of treatment.

I have growth another 1/4 inch, can breath easier, sleep better and can sit and stand straighter with less effort.

I am in awe of what the doctors at CLEAR have been able to achieve and the hope and inspiration they create for children and adults who thought their only option was surgery or to just deal with the pain and discomfort caused by scoliosis.

And I'm in awe of my family and friends who have supported me through this entire journey. I could not have done it without them.

Quantum Results in action ...everywhere

Today is the first day of my second round of Intensive Treatment at the Clear Institute in St. Cloud Minnesota. It's been 6 1/2 months since I was here last, and x-rays today revealed that my scoliosis has actually improved since I left the clinic last October. The amazing results I received last time - top curve from 35 to 15 in the 2 weeks I was here, has gone down to 9. Bottom curve from 57 to 39 during my last two weeks of treatment, has now gone down to 35. I had hoped to just maintain the results I received last time with the exercises I was doing at home, not actually improve!

It's a result I could not be happier with and proves that the work I have been doing every day is paying off. My muscles are getting stronger to support my spine, and my spine is becoming more flexible as it gets straighter, allowing it to be moved even straighter when I am on my traction chair.

Being here this time holds even more significance for me because of the 10 runners and friends and family who made it possible for me to take on this second round of intensive treatment.

I received more great news today. Not only have the manufacturers of the Scoliosis Traction Chair (STC) advised me they are willing to put in the remaining 2k to purchase a traction chair for the network, they are also working on a lighter, more durable chair with a case for travel, making it even easier to keep up with treatment and travel at the same time. The new version of the chair will be ready once tests and manufacturing has been completed!

Things are moving - all in the right direction!

Marathon Fundraising Wrap Up

Wow, what an amazing couple of months it has been! The overwhelming support and contribution from friends, family and complete strangers for this 6 month project has been incredible.

The total raised from 'The Running Backs' 72 contributors has reached $8000 which is just 2k shy of our 10k goal to raising money for my two weeks of treatment at the Clear Institue this May and for a Traveling Scoliosis Traction chair for network of patients.

The Traction chair is 80% of the treatment and is therefore a crucial step to improve scoliosis. So its important to use the chair twice a day. When travelling its a little more difficult and I wanted to set up a system so that Clear Institute patients could have the freedom to keep up their treatment and travel at the same time.

The Travelling Traction Chair could be reserved and used by all patients in the network, booked ahead of time and shipped to their hotel/accommodation they are travelling to. The chair would then be shipped back to the manufacturers for a service and ready for the next person to use. This eliminates the need for patients to miss their treatment and have to pack up their own chairs if they are travelling for an extensive period of time.

I want to thank everyone for making this projects success a reality, for giving me the opportunity for more treatment, and for contributing in a big way to the quality life of Clear Institute patients. Special thank you to Rebel for starting this whole project and for The Running Backs who trained and slogged it out in the pouring rain on 20 March to complete the marathon (Rebel, Danielle, Patty, Lacy, Kirsty, Mo, Naomi, James Luke and MIchelle for taking on 1/2 marathon in New York) and all their supports. I am eternally grateful!

love michelle