BARRHEAD- Being a hospital as a patient isn't the most pleasant experience, especially for a child.
However, Kristie Schatz is hoping Barrhead area residents will help make her daughter's stay at the hospital a little more bearable.
Last week, Aubrey Schatz, underwent surgery at the Stollery Children's Hospital to help correct problems and symptoms arising from her acute scoliosis.
Aubrey, who is five, will be in the hospital for approximately two months as she recovers from her surgery.
"She needs to go into halo traction, the same thing she was was in 2018," Kristie said, adding the medical staff at the hospital did everything could to expedite her surgery.
Aubrey suffers from Beals Syndrome and was diagnosed when she was only two months old.
The syndrome is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder that causes bones, joints, muscles and tendons and other tissue to form improperly.
In Aubrey's case, her biggest issue is that she suffers from severe scoliosis, as well as joint and muscle issues. Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine has a sideways curve.
"She has had complications with her cure and with her rod (in her spine). Growth of a new curve has also started," Kristie said. "She's in incredible pain every day," she said. "She is on prescription level medication, which allows her to function, but it doesn't take the pain away entirely."
To help with Aubrey's pain management, the Schatz's applied for and received in March 2020 an outdoor swim spa through The Children's Wish Foundation.
"She sure does love her spa," Kristie said. "She goes in it almost every day and it really helps with her pain."
In early 2018, Aubrey underwent halo treatment to lessen the curve in her spine, from 127 degrees to 55 degrees. She then underwent surgery to implant steel rods to help ensure the correction was permanent. All totalled, she was in the hospital for 76 days.
Unfortunately, in 2020, Aubrey needed to undergo another surgery to insert a new set of rods.
"The old rods failed ... and they couldn't be lengthened anymore," Kristie said. "This surgery has less to do about the rods and more how her body is changing."
As for how successful the surgery will be, the Schatz's have high hopes, but the doctors do not know for sure.
"She is very complex," she said.
In the summer, Kristie added, they went to Philadelphia to consult with a team of medical experts in Aubrey's condition.
"They collaborated with our team here and we are moving forward with what they believe should help her, but we won't know until we are on the other side," Kristie said.
Regrettably, because of the pandemic, Aubrey will not be able to receive any visitors, outside her parents.
"Not even her sister, which will be very hard on her. That is why we've been asking people to send her 'happy mail'," she said. "Cards, letters and pictures that she can open on the day, she needs a boost."
People wanting to send happy mail to Aubrey can send it to Barrhead's Bethel Pentecostal Church (5410-53 Avenue, Barrhead, AB T7N 1C4).
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
