Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Well what a rollercoaster of ups and downs we’ve been on the past few months, which brings me to this fundraiser. So let me explain... I’m sat here trying to find the right words to write, deleting, typing, wondering whether I even want to ‘go public’ but you know what, my brave little girl asked if we could raise awareness - she asked to raise money for charity - so with her strength & determination I’m going to support that and get involved in exactly what she wants! 

Back in February this year, we started just a normal day. I was brushing Myla’s hair and I saw her back was sticking out a tiny bit more on her right side - I kept asking her to sit up straight & she was adamant she was. But Mother’s instinct, something just didn’t seem right to me. Of course I took to trusty google, simply typing in ‘8 year old back sticks out more one side’ wondering if I’d find the answers? I was bombarded with information about ‘Scoliosis’ ... what the hell? Scoli-what? What even is this? Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a worrier & when it comes to my kids - I’m a wreck! I knew she had to see a doctor. But still trying to convince myself it’s nothing, it has to be nothing. The next week or even months were a whirlwind - long story short, we saw the doctor, next day I got her to hospital for X-ray, a few days later a call to confirm, ‘I’m afraid Myla has idiopathic scoliosis, I’ve referred her to RNOH London to see a specialist’ my world actually just fell apart around me, no one ever wants anything to be wrong with their children. How has this happened? Why has it happened? How do we get her better? What even is it!?

The next few nights, up all night researching, reading, educating myself with it all! The reality is, there’s no reason this happened, no cause, just really bad luck! It can affect people of any age, from babies to adults! Most commonly in adolescence, ages 10-15 or during growth spurts. Also, most commonly in girls! So Scoliosis is curvature and twisting of the spine - there’s mild, moderate, severe. So I had to sit tight and wait to see a consultant and be clearer of what we are dealing with.

Our appointment come through and we went off to London, her X-ray was a shock to see - her spine is an ‘S’ shape! Her curve is currently at 32 degrees. 50 degrees is where they consider Spinal Fusion surgery!! Of course this condition gets worse with growth, Myla still has many years of growing to do! However, I’ve caught it early so the next step was to get her in a body brace, to hold the curve, slow it down hopefully and possibly even correct her. Or none of those, it might not work at all. But scoliosis is very much ‘watch & wait’ - which is not in my nature as a mother. I just want to fix her, NOW. That aside, plenty more trips to London and she was casted and fitted for her brace. Which she needs to wear for 23 hours a day! 1 hour out for bathing & physio. 

Since the diagnosis, we are still getting our heads around it all, adapting to try & make it all better & easier in anyway we can for Myla. I know it can become worse quickly, I know very bad pain can accompany it too, I know things may become harder. I’ve joined groups of other parents with Scoliosis Warrior children, for advice and support along the way - I’m following many scoliosis accounts on Instagram of people going through the same and what I’ve come to realise is, it’s actually so much more common than I first thought. But there’s no awareness at all for it! There was a time a school nurse used to go around schools and check children for Scoliosis! They still should! ‘Early detection, early correction!’ So many people you tell, have never even heard of this life changing condition! 

Since February, the specialists at RNOH Stanmore have been unbelievable. Every appointment she is made to feel so at ease and I’m filled with complete confidence in the doctors and consultants. As a family right now, we are so grateful for our NHS, these braces alone are thousands of pounds to supply if we had to go private, the x rays, the consultant/surgeon dealing with Myla is remarkable. So together, Myla & Me wanted to give something back, so we are not only trying to raising awareness of Scoliosis but we’d love your help to raise funds towards this amazing hospital which helps children like Myla everyday! We are going to do the 100 Mile Challenge, starting the 1st of June as June is actually Scoliosis Awareness month - yes, it even has its own month of awareness! Yet we still hardly hear of it!? We will be walking, running & scooting our way to 100 miles over the course of a month. Logging it all & raising awareness for Scoliosis... together 👭🏼

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, it means so much to us. Any donation would be HUGELY appreciated and so encouraging for Myla to smash this 100 miles in June!! Let’s go my girl! 💪🏼🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️

Love to you all xxxx