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For more information on scoliosis, early diagnosis and more, visit scoliosis.org.
Five years ago, Kaitlyn McAfee went to the doctor for a routine sports physical and left with a diagnosis of scoliosis and orders to wear a back brace for 16 hours each day. This year, she is celebrating two victories: $60,000 raised for the National Scoliosis Foundation through her efforts, and a new proclamation from Gov. Bill Haslam declaring June as Scoliosis Awareness Month.
Since her diagnosis, the now-17-year-old Ooltewah resident has advocated for earlier screenings and more awareness among parents and children, usually diagnosed between ages 10-15. She also founded Color the Curve, an annual color run or glow run to raise money for the scoliosis research.
Though there will be no run this year, the annual event will resume next year.
Kaitlyn's abnormal spinal curvature, which affects an estimated 6 million to 9 million people in the U.S., came as a shock, she said. The shock only grew when, six months after her diagnosis, she was told the brace wasn't working and she would need surgery to prevent further problems.
When Kaitlyn was diagnosed at age 12, her spine's "s" curve was 25 degrees. By the end of the year when she had the surgery to put two rods and 18 screws in her spine, the curve was 67 degrees.
"I didn't really know anyone else who had scoliosis or anything about it," she recalled of her initial diagnosis. "I was bullied a lot through middle school because of it."
Through her advocacy and Color the Curve, Kaitlyn has worked to ensure other children don't feel alone in a diagnosis as she did. And after several years of requests, the governor has helped her message reach even further, she said.
"The earlier you find out, the more you can do about it," she said of the incurable disease, which can require lifelong monitoring and management. " It feels really good. I can tell people all day, but if the governor says it, more people will hear it. It just feels really good to get that awareness."