Scoliosis is a condition that affects the curvature of the spine and can be a challenging diagnosis for anyone to receive. For the Downing family, this diagnosis became a reality when their son, Smith, was only 15 months old.
When Smith’s mother noticed asymmetry with Smith’s back, the Downing family sought out medical advice. After completing an MRI scan, the results confirmed that Smith had idiopathic infantile scoliosis with a 56-degree S-curve.
Smith’s scoliosis was also progressing. The Downings were concerned that if it were to continue at a high rate, Smith’s Smith’s scoliosis was also progressing. The Downing’s, who knew little about scoliosis at a toddler’s age, began to research as much as possible. They reached out to several doctors and hospitals but found little comfort in the limited options for correction. Most options presented to them by physicians included surgery with high complication rates, until they met Dr. Alec Stall.
“Dr. Stall was the first doctor to comprehensively explain the various options to help improve Smith’s infant scoliosis,” says Smith’s father. “Dr. Stall was also the first doctor to provide personalized care and communication to not only us as parents, but he also interacted directly with Smith in a genuine and caring manner. After Dr. Stall’s initial diagnosis, we were very appreciative to have found one of the few, specialized doctors who had trained in an infant, scoliosis casting method,” says Smith’s father. This non-surgical, non-invasive method manipulates the spine over time holding it in place through casting. “That gave us peace of mind in working with Dr. Stall,” says Smith’s father. “He could provide Smith the opportunity for improvement and a chance to grow without surgical complications.”
When Smith was about 8 years old, Dr. Stall began working at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. The Downing family trusts Dr. Stall at such a high-level, they decided to follow him to Nemours so that Smith could continue to receive care from him. “Based on the outstanding work, and complete satisfaction and trust with Dr. Stall’s care, our family now flies to Florida each year from St. Louis, specifically to continue working with Dr. Stall,” explains Smith’s father. “Our experiences with Nemours Children’s have been exceptional, and Dr. Stall and his staff are the key reasons. Jackie Kenney (RN) has also been a fantastic liaison and partner in helping coordinate care. She continually exceeds expectations when communicating, like Dr. Stall.”
Today, Smith is 12 years old and has seen tremendous progress since beginning his scoliosis journey. His degree of curvature has improved from 56 down to approximately 15-20 degrees. Smith is currently holding a steady rate of curvature and does not have any complications.
When asked what advice he would give to another family in a similar situation, the family says, “Advocate for your family or dependent’s health and wellness. Continue to research, ask questions, and partner with your doctor to, hopefully, find a treatment option that is right for you. Smith is an example of how a quality doctor, such as Dr. Alec Stall, can positively change the life of an individual.”
