Late yesterday I got back from one of the most exciting trips ever! Mr. O’Brien, the CEO and President of National Scoliosis Foundation and a fellow scoliosis patient, invited me to come to Boston to learn how to screen for scoliosis. It was such an amazing experience to be in the office and learn such an important skill from such a special person. He truly is an inspiration and advocate for all of us walking down the path of scoliosis. Everyday he is fighting for each of us around the world. I do think his Irish spirit helps a bit! 🙂  He is a role model in his personal and professional life, I pray and aspire to be able to emulate in my own life. He is like a walking encyclopedia of information about scoliosis and is willing to share what he knows with everyone, so we are empowered with this knowledge to help ourselves and others. I learned so much about treatments in the past, present, and some hopes for treatments in the future. I have faith we will find the cause and cure for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, which affects one in forty people because we have such caring and intelligent people like Mr. O’Brien in our scoliosis medical community worldwide. There are brilliant minds at work! Until then, we all have to continue using our voices and raising awareness of what scoliosis is and the importance of screening and early detection.

I was also gifted the beautiful bookmark above from Mr. O’Brien. I know some debate who first said this beautiful phrase, but I choose to think it was another Bostonian, Dr. Suess, who many credit. Whoever did pen this originally, had someone of Mr. O’Brien’s character in mind. He really does mean the world to me and many more, giving us all hope, filled with his care and support. Thank you Mr. O’Brien for being there for me and helping me to continue and grow in finding and using my voice! Boston’s past might be filled with many famous people, which we saw on our trip, but you are my pick for the best! What a treasure Boston has in you! What a treasure the scoliosis community has in you!!!