SHONA Kelly from Dublin 8 was a normal teenage girl right up until the age of 14, when she was diagnosed with a severe curve in her spine and told that she needed an operation to save her mobility.
Left devastated and with very few options Shona and her family had almost agreed to the brutal surgery when they discovered an exercise routine which has drastically changed her prognosis.
Shona had always been very fit and active throughout her life and was passionate about swimming but her mother started to notice that her shoulder blade was protruding on one side.
Shona had also started to experience severe pain shooting down one side of her back and was struggling to keep up with her friends at her swimming class.
This was very unusual for Shona as she had always been full of energy, never giving up easily on anything, so her mother knew instantly that something was very seriously wrong.
In a state of panic, she made an emergency appointment to see the family GP who immediately gave the family a devastating diagnosis.
Shona was told that she had a condition called scoliosis, which means curvature of the spine. The family were told that they would be referred to a specialist but that it was likely to be a good three month wait.
“I was so upset when I was told about my spine,
? Shona said.
“I had always loved swimming and keeping fit and active has always been such a big part of my life. I know I shouldn’t be so competitive but I am and when I was told there was something wrong with me and that I wasn’t normal, I felt like giving up on everything.
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When the Kelly family returned home they decided to do a bit of their own research into the treatment of scoliosis. But the more they read on the Internet, the more alarmed they became.
They discovered that scoliosis was a progressive condition and that it needed to be treated as soon as possible to prevent any further damage.
Scoliosis causes the spine to excessively curve sideways. The condition affects more than four per cent of the population and left un-treated can lead to fatal heart and lung problems.
The operation to correct the condition is an incredibly risky procedure which involves metal rods being inserted either side of the spine, before the spine is fused solid.
Shona’s life began to fall apart. In constant pain, she was facing the prospect of major surgery and getting anywhere near swimming professionally was going to be out of the question.
In a desperate last attempt to find a miracle, Shona and her family started to search for alternative treatments and came across UK based Scoliosis SOS.
Founded and run by Erika Maude, who has Scoliosis herself, the clinic opened 6 ½ years ago and has brought relief to hundreds of sufferers. Located in central London, it’s the only clinic in the world to offer treatment following the ScolioGold method, which is the combination of internationally renowned non-surgical treatments that have been practiced separately in Europe for several decades.
Shona and her mother decided that the treatment couldn’t do any harm and that if it meant she could start swimming and performing properly again it could really change her life.
After several hours on the phone asking numerous questions, Shona was booked onto a four week program and her whole family including her teachers are overwhelmed with the results she has been able to achieve.
“Shona changed literally overnight,
? her mother said.
“As soon as she started treatment and met other girls with the same condition, she started to bounce back.
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Within weeks of being on the course, Shona’s condition dramatically improved. She was no longer getting short of breath when doing exercise and her pain disappeared.
Shona learnt a set of exercises which strengthened the muscles surrounding her spine and meant that her scoliosis stabilised. She also made huge improvements to her cosmetic appearance and learnt that her condition would not ruin her life if she kept up the exercises.
Shona is now back home and has regained her confidence.
“I am so relieved to get back to what I love,
? she said.
“I really didn’t want to have surgery; swimming and keeping fit is my life. I can now focus on my exams and I am no longer scared of what my future holds.
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