ABC 7 News – 14-Year Old Reese’s Scoliosis Surgery

This is a 92 degree curvature of the spine.

My ribcage was popped out.

The hump on 14 year old Reese Thielbar’s spine protruded when she bent.

And the only way I would try to hide that, I would wear hoodies and jackets and sweaters.

In time, it would interfere with her ability to breathe. Doctors said it should have been treated earlier. Reese was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 7, and it kept progressing. Eventually, her grandparents took her to a chiropractor who specialized in non-surgical treatment.

The traction chair was $4,200. She has to sat in that twice a day, 30 minutes. And she’s all tied and strapped in with weights pulling her.

And the whole time Reese was going through these chiropractic exercises and manipulations, doctors say her spine was getting increasingly worse.

That’s why I feel bad for Reese, because it should have never progressed this far. And there is no scientific evidence to show emergency traction or traction or manipulation is going to stop the curve from progressing.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Hooman Melamed said Reese was no longer a candidate for less invasive non-fusion techniques. She underwent a six-hour surgery to painstakingly straighten her spine section by section. Other doctors had refused to even try.

We have to start slowly dialing it in, move the spine over, and then have to put a rod on this side to push it further over.

Less than a week after surgery, Reese is walking around. Dr. Melamed expects her to resume all the activities she loves.

Her back is flat, she’s a whole new person.

I’m going back to softball, start playing sport now.

Reese tells others not to delay, do the research and find the right care. In Marina Del Rey, Denise Dador, ABC 7 Eyewitness News.