Orthopaedic Surgery
Peri
Scoliosis was inevitable for Peri because of her neuromuscular disease. Diagnosed at 8 months old with nemaline rod myopathy, a rare disease in the muscular dystrophy cluster, Peri's life became a continuous dance with healthcare professionals. Throughout her nine years, Peri has visited neurologists, pulmonologists, cranial facial specialists, orthodontists as well as a long list of physical and occupational therapists. A fragile child, surviving multiple hospitalizations, Peri's parents knew finding the right team to manager her scoliosis would be a challenge. Their research found Drs. Michael Vitale and David P. Roye, Jr. and a team of experienced staff at the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. "They were realistic and optimistic," described Lori, Peri's Mom. "All the other doctors we interviewed would only talk about maintaining her ‘Quality of Life' -- which in their terms meant 'no hope.' But these doctors redefined 'Quality of Life' with hope for her future."
Peri's scoliosis was treated with growing rods, requiring adjustments every 4 to 6 months. With a trache tube and requiring ventilation, each procedure demands the expertise of the whole team. "Every person at the hospital puts our daughter first," explained Lori about their multiple visits from Long Island. "They discuss everything with Peri first and go out of their way to ensure she is part of the team."
The results have been significant with Peri being able to sit straighter, breathe easier, experience less pain and she has been growing stronger, gaining weight and increasing her stamina.
Peri is a busy third grader -- excelling at her school work, involved with Girl Scouts, swimming and riding her bike. But her great passion is her ballet dance class each week, when she looks and feels like a Princess.
