At just four years old, Avyn was diagnosed with a severe 60º curvature of Early Onset Scoliosis. Her local physicians recommended Mehta casting, prompting her family to begin searching for the best pediatric orthopedic specialists in the nation. Their search led them to Dr. Joseph Khoury in Florida and Dr. Alec Stall in Texas. The decision to choose between these two esteemed doctors wasn’t easy, but ultimately, Avyn’s family placed their trust in Dr. Khoury at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida.
“Avyn has been extremely resilient throughout her scoliosis journey,” says her mother, Sarah. Thanks to her treatments, Avyn’s curve progression slowed, allowing her to maintain her normal life, participating in athletics and daily activities with minimal discomfort. However, as she grew older, her family knew she would need a spinal fusion surgery at age 10.
“We discovered Nemours when Dr. Khoury transferred from Shriners Tampa to Nemours Children’s,” says Sarah. “When it was time to schedule Avyn’s spinal fusion surgery, Dr. Khoury explained that Nemours required two surgeons to be present. Little did we know Dr. Alec Stall had transferred from Texas since our contact six years prior and would be the second surgeon taking care of our girl! Turns out we didn’t have to choose between the best of the best after all! Talk about peace of mind for us as parents! Only God Himself could orchestrate something of that magnitude.”
Avyn’s family’s experience at Nemours was nothing short of superb. “Dr. Khoury and his entire staff have been amazing since day one,” says Sarah. “On surgery day everyone was extremely knowledgeable, attentive, kind and overly-accommodating, to Avyn and to us as two anxious parents. They kept our family informed and assured during our entire stay. Nurse Laura was especially wonderful to us!”
Avyn’s recovery from spinal fusion surgery exceeded expectations. Requiring minimal pain management post-surgery, she has seamlessly returned to school on schedule. “You’d never know she has two rods and 26 screws in her spine!” says Sarah.
Looking ahead, Avyn is optimistic about the future. She has now resumed normal activities like softball, dancing, gymnastics, and more. Avyn wants other patients to know, “Nothing is impossible with God! Don’t be afraid. Keep your head up, and recovery will be here before you know it.” Her parents encourage others to know that their child is in the best hands at Nemours. “They will stop at nothing to take the very best care of your little one,” says Sarah.
In a testament to Avyn’s compassionate nature, she organized a tab drive for Ronald McDonald House, collecting an astonishing 4,196,160 tabs in a few months. This generous contribution resulted in a $3,162 donation, marking the largest tab donation the Ronald McDonald House of Central Florida had ever received.
Avyn’s journey is an inspiration to all, reminding us that with faith and the right team, every challenge can be overcome.
