Hello Everybody! My name is Allison, and I am the creator of Let’s Put It Behind You.

I have been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, and this is my Gold Award Project. But this project is so much more than that and also very personal to me. I am a spinal fusion warrior, and I know firsthand how difficult and isolating recovery can feel.

My story started in the summer of 2024, when I was 13 and on vacation with my family. It all started with something as simple as an ear infection. The ear infection was not going away with antibiotics, so as a last-ditch effort, my mom took me to her chiropractor. He ran one finger down my back and asked, “Have you ever been screened for scoliosis?”

I had never, besides going to my physical every year, so he sent me to get X-rays a couple weeks later. After the X-rays happened, me and my family went back home, where the images were uploaded to the portal. We took one look at it, and my mom said, “I am no doctor, but that doesn’t look straight.”

And she was right.

We got an appointment with a spine doctor a few weeks later and got the news that the scoliosis was very severe, and the only option was surgery. He said that even if it was caught earlier, the brace would have not helped.

That takes us through to different pediatric surgeons, eventually ending with Dr. Skaggs, who works at Cedars-Sinai and performed my spinal fusion in the winter of 2024. I was fused from T4 to L3, which has left a 14-inch scar down my back.

The recovery process was not easy. There was a sense of helplessness and isolation, but I got through it. It is behind me now, and I returned to school a few weeks later. Today, I am thriving, playing trumpet in Marching and Jazz Band, and using what I learned from my own recovery to help others going through theirs.

That is why I created the guide and its resources as a part of my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The guide includes overall information, recovery tips, emotional encouragement, and activities to help you through both the physical and mental aspects of healing, along with companion gentle movement videos.

My goal for this guide is to make the recovery process feel less isolating and more manageable for you and your family.

The information included in the guide and website is based on personal experiences, interviews, and research, and is not intended to replace professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always follow the guidance of your doctors, surgeons, physical therapists, and licensed mental health professionals regarding your care and recovery. Every recovery journey is different, so please use this guide as a supportive resource rather than a substitute for professional care.

I hope you enjoy!