We are almost to the finish line...

September 27, 2025 represented Brett’s 3 year “spine-a-versary” (pretty sure it’s a made-up word but we heard another Dr. Dan patient say it and we thought it was a keeper. 😊

So Jeff took him to his 3 year appointment on Monday to see Dr. Dan.

·         High point: he’s now 5 foot 10 inches…. Growing in the right direction.

·         High point: Saunders scale 7 (remember 8 is full maturity).

·         High point: He’s now released to do squats. (for a guy who bench presses 185, he was very pumped about that).

·         SLIGHTLY low point – Dr. Dan believes a tether has broken somewhere due to the increase in curve to now a 26. He was at a 21 in March, just 6 months ago. So that’s how he knows.

I have to admit, I was bummed a tether broke. I remember Dr. Dan saying “If I can get the kid out of surgery, and full spinal maturity is a 20 degree curve, then I consider that my goal and win”.

BUT… the fact that he’s nearly full grown (probably full grown in 6 months) and the fact that my son is not fused… OH… and his spine isn’t curved to a 52 like pre surgery… I should get out of my pitty party and count my blessings.

The young man truly looks amazing. If you saw him without his shirt on, you wouldn’t know he’s curved at all. That’s the end goal right? That he looks good, feels good about himself (confidence), feels good, and is able to breathe with full lung capacity… then we are where we need to be and we should count our blessings… WE DO.

Ask me who the best spine doctor in the world is?  Daniel Hoernschemeyer at University of Missouri Orthopaedic. Ask me who the toughest boy... man... in the world is... Brett Albert.