Treatment keeps Coventry girl's dream afloat

Young swimmer back in pool despite devastating medical diagnosis




                       Coventry swimmer Kelsey Pond

A teenager has opened her heart about a crippling condition which threatened to sink her swimming ambitions.


Kelsey Pond, from Earlsdon, Coventry, suffers a severe spinal curve which turned her world upside down.


She was 13 when she was diagnosed with the condition scoliosis – curvature of the spine – and was told she would need an operation to save her mobility. It was devastating news for the girl who is passionate about swimming.


The diagnosis came after her mother noticed Kelsey’s shoulder blade protruding on one side and Kelsey started experiencing severe shooting pains.

     

 

      An X-ray of Kelsey Pond's spinal curvature

 
Kelsey’s mum made an emergency appointment to see the family GP who immediately delivered the shattering news.


Kelsey said: “I had always loved being in the water and I was getting really good, training up to five times a week.


“When I was told that my favourite stroke was putting serious strain on my spine and it was something I should consider giving up, I was devastated.”


Scoliosis affects more than four per cent of the population and, if left untreated, can lead to fatal heart and lung problems.


Current treatment in this country is to wait until the curve becomes so severe, the only option left is to operate in a procedure which involves metal rods being inserted either side of the spine, before the spine is fused solid.


Faced with the prospect of major surgery and swimming professionally being out of the question, Kelsey and her family desperately searched the internet for alternative treatments.


They discovered Scoliosis SOS in central London, the only clinic in the world to offer a combination of renowned non-surgical treatments, and Kelsey was booked onto a four-week treatment course.


Within weeks of being on the course, Kelsey’s condition dramatically improved.


Kelsey’s mum Sam is overwhelmed by the results.


She said: “As soon as she started treatment and met other girls with the same condition, she started to bounce back.


“It’s so exciting to start looking to the future again.”


Kelsey said: “Scoliosis ruined my life when I was first diagnosed but I very quickly learned that it really did not need to be like that and I was in control of my own condition – the treatment course changed everything.” 



Source : Coventry Telegraph , 12th Feb 2014