IT was the X-ray that first shocked Meg Macfarlane. The curve in the spine was so severe she did not realise at first that it belonged to her 12-year-old daughter Molly.
To their dismay, the family were told the X-ray was not only Molly’s, but she needed major and complex surgery called spinal fusion. The diagnosis was idiopathic adolescent scoliosis, which makes the spine curve and has no known cause.
Although Meg had suspected it might be scoliosis after she spotted Molly’s shoulder blade sticking out oddly, she had thought that, at worst, only a brace would be needed. After seeing their GP, who referred them to the spinal team at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital For Sick Children, an X-ray was taken before they met consultant Thanos Tsirikos.
“He had an X-ray up when we walked in and I thought, ‘oh poor child, that is really bad’,” said Meg. “I thought it must belong to the child who was in before us, but it was Molly’s. He said it was severe, beyond bracing, and needed surgery.”
For Molly, an active girl who enjoyed swimming and netball, the news was a devastating blow.
“I was very upset when I first found out and cried a lot,” she said. “It hit me hard because I had never been to hospital for anything.”
The family from Haddington, were told that without surgery, the curve would become even more severe as she grew and would start to have an impact on her lungs and breathing.
While the risks from surgery are small, Molly was still scared about the prospect of the operation.
“I was very concerned because it seemed so extreme,” she said.
Fortunately, the operation appointment came through within five weeks of her diagnosis, despite the pandemic.
“It would have been terrifying at any point and was a lot to get our heads around in such a short space of time, but it did mean there was not a lot of time to worry,” said Meg. “There are massive waiting times down south, so we feel very fortunate to be under this team.”
The week before the surgery was still “really tough”.
“Molly was worried but she was very brave,” said Meg.
The operation involved placing two metal rods at the side of the spine, and bone grafts between each of the vertebra in order to fuse the spine into one long bone.
The procedure lasted more than four hours but was a success, with Molly taking her first steps just 24 hours afterwards.
Seven months on, Molly is still adjusting to her body being pulled back into shape but hopes to start swimming again soon and being able to carry more weight.
As her spine is fused, her back will not grow any more and she is unable to bend and twist as she did before, but she should not need further surgery.
“I was upset about it but now that the operation is over and done with, it feels quite normal and I can talk about it,” said Molly.
In order to thank the Edinburgh team, she is now raising money to help their research and also wants to raise awareness of the condition.
HELPED by Meg, her father Ed, brother Fred, and sister Alice, Molly has been undertaking a 500K challenge ahead of Scoliosis Awareness Month in June. She has already surpassed the initial goal of £5000 with a new target set at £6000.
More than 450K has been completed by Molly walking, and the rest of the family by cycling and swimming.
“I am very grateful to Mr Tsirikos and spinal nurse Hilary Sharp, and I hope the money raised will help them research scoliosis even further and help other children like me,” said Molly, who is now 13.
“Both before and after the surgery it was a scary time, but the Edinburgh spinal team gave my family and me the most amazing care and support and still do as I continue my recovery.”
“Ed, Fred, Alice and I couldn’t be prouder of Molly. She has coped incredibly well and has bounced back so quickly. She is an absolute megastar,” Meg added.
You can donate to Molly’s fundraiser at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/scottishnationalspineservice
