Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No,
it’s Super-Liam!
A curve was initially discovered
in Liam’s spine when he was 6 months old, though his physician at the time
concluded that it was nothing to worry about, and no further action was taken. Later
on, 2-year-old Liam underwent another round of X-rays, which revealed the undeniable
curve had increased to 30 degrees. He was officially diagnosed with early onset scoliosis, which
his physicians believe to be linked to a condition Liam was born with called congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
After Liam was diagnosed with
scoliosis, his family was initially referred to a specialist in the Seattle
area where they live. At their consultation, the physician explained that they would
like to continue to monitor Liam, but wanted to wait until the curve progressed
to 35 degrees before beginning any sort of treatment, which would eventually
necessitate surgery. Liam’s mom, Sarah, felt troubled by the advised approach to
wait until the condition worsened.
“It was all very new to us at the time. We went home
feeling like we were just waiting for the inevitable [surgery],” said Sarah. “It
seemed unsettling not to try and act on it now.”
A close friend recommended that
she seek a second opinion from Shriners Hospitals for Children — Portland. At
the Portland Shriners Hospital, Liam was seen by Joseph I. Krajbich, M.D., who recommended
that they begin immediate treatment using the Mehta-Cotrel casting method. This
method utilizes custom molds of the infant or young child, usually through a
series of corrective casts, to help prevent the progression of a spinal curve.
Often this form of treatment can prolong the need for surgery, or in some cases
eliminate it. Initially, Liam’s treatment began with the serial casting
treatments at eight-week intervals, and after a year he progressed to bracing.
“The casting treatments were a difficult pill to swallow
as a parent. You think about the things your child will be missing out on
because of the cast,” said Sarah. “You think about little things like cast-free
hugs and cuddles that you will no longer be able to feel, which is tough for
any parent. Ultimately, the big picture becomes the most important thing, and
knowing you are doing everything possible to give your child the best possible
outcome overpowers the small things you may miss.”
Liam and Sarah, who is a
professional photographer, have learned to embrace Liam’s scoliosis treatment
by using his braces to create fantastical photos of Liam depicted as his favorite
superheroes. As part of his treatment plan, Liam is typically fitted for a new
brace every nine to 12 months, and every time he gets a new brace, the transformation
begins. Using a variety of outdoor vinyl materials to design the costumes,
Sarah creates the ensemble needed for Liam to save the world.
“Liam loves the photoshoots. It is the
highlight of our week. We have turned them into adventures each time. It is
always an absolute blast for him,” said Sarah. “Liam has a long road ahead of
him. I'm trying to teach him that through hard times come good moments – that
if you look hard enough at the hard road in front of you, you will see a
positive path. My hope is that when he looks back at this time in his life, it will
make him smile.”
Sarah has coordinated and staged photoshoots of Liam as
Spider-Man, Batman, Buzz Lightyear, Captain America, Thor, Superman, Hiccup,
and even Russel Wilson – who Liam got to meet and pose with! His most recent
photoshoot shows Liam channeling the force as the famous Star Wars character Obi-Wan Kenobi.
When he’s not wielding his hammer
to summon lightning, defending the citizens of Gotham City or taming dragons,
you can often find Liam riding bikes and playing his favorite sport, baseball!