Family in need as daughter faces long recovery

By Medicine Hat News on February 27, 2021.

Syrah Lake, 14, will have spinal fusion surgery in Calgary on March 31 due to scoliosis. The family is facing a lot of financial costs and has set up a GoFundMe page asking for help.--SUBMITTED PHOTO

A local family is facing significant financial strain with their daughter having spinal fusion surgery in Calgary and have set up a GoFundMe page asking for assistance.

Syrah Lake, 14, was diagnosed with scoliosis a couple of years ago, and by early 2019 there were significant concerns.

Scoliosis is a curving of the spine. In Syrah’s case the curve is from below her neck to the middle of her back.

“By that time she had a thoracic curve of 57 degrees already,” said Elesha Lake, her mother. “Now she’s at about 100 degrees. She was growing so fast that once it curved a little it just kept going.”

A year ago there was a plan of action. She was going to be admitted to the Alberta Children’s Hospital for what is called “halo traction” for a few months to straighten the spine as much as possible and then have spinal fusion surgery.

Elesha says the whole treatment plan was put on hold a year ago because of COVID.

Last month the surgeon decided to forego the halo traction and do the spinal fusion surgery on March 31, about four weeks away.

Spinal fusion will include using bone from her hip and rods to straighten the spine, said Elesha. The recovery time will be about 12 months.

For the family the financial costs are significant. There is the cost of many trips back and forth to Calgary. While Elesha is in hospital her parents will need to pay for a hotel, food and parking at the hospital. After she is released from hospital there are medication costs and frequent physiotherapy that will be part of her recovery process. There will be regular trips back to Calgary during this time, too.

Elesha says her husband’s private extended health-care benefits will cover a small fraction of what Syrah will need.

The family has estimated their costs will be about $12,000, although it could be much higher.

Elesha says she would describe Syrah as being “anxious,” and it is all “quite terrifying.”

Syrah says no one sees what she is going through.

“It’s a lonely struggle. A silent illness so to speak.”

As Syrah has waited for treatment and surgery during the last 12 months, she has managed to connect with other young people who have had similar surgery, and that has helped.

“That being said she is very scared because she knows there is no way we can sugar coat it. She is in for a world of pain,” said Elesha.

For Elesha and her husband it is also scary.

“It’s overwhelming to say the least,” said Elesha, noting they have confidence in the surgeon but there is a long recovery process. “She’ll need 24/7 care. She’ll be 100 per cent dependent on us.”

Here are the links to the GoFundMe page and other social media platforms.