J - my big strong tree

Our 2 copies of 'Cole and the Crooked Flower' arrived from the US yesterday.

I took it out to read to J this morning and we read it *FOUR* times one after another!!

He followed the story intently and was v v v v v interested by the last page where there's a photo of the real Cole (the little boy whose father wrote the book) wearing a pink Mehta cast covered in skulls! J pointed to that photo a lot. I don't think he's seen a picture of someone else in cast. I'll have to try and get some more from the web. There are also two x-rays - one of Cole at 57 degrees and one at 2 degrees before and after treatment.

I gave a copy to the Nursery this morning and they were delighted - they have been wanting to help prepare J but, like me, they have hesitated about the 'preparing for hospital' books as that's only part of the story. With such a long-term condition it's great to have a book with a happy end: the doctors are helping your spine to grow straight by using casts just as the doctor in the book helped Cole's flower (and his back!) to grow straight again.

As we were leaving the house I said to J "come on my little flower". This is not a term of endearment I usually use for him and he definitely didn't like it. He scowled and said "no". So I said "come on my big strong tree" and he smiled and came :-)


Dear J, my big strong tree, I really hope the doctors *will* make your back straight(er?). Love Mummy

Cole and the Crooked Flower

While exploring his garden Cole finds a crooked flower.  Determined to help the flower grow straight, Cole tries everything he can think of, including milk to make it grow stronger, massage to work out its kinks, even a hair iron.  Finally, with a little bit of help, he finds a gentle cure, and soon his flower is the tallest, straightest in the garden. 

To buy copies:
http://shop.earthycrunchymama.com/products/cole-the-crooked-flower


From the website:

Scoliosis is the curvature and rotation of the spine.  Progressive Infantile Scoliosis is a rare form of scoliosis affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 children from birth to age 3 years.  Unlike the more commonly known form of adolescent scoliosis, infantile scoliosis is a very serious condition that requires immediate treatment.  Children under 3 still have lots of growing to do, and without treatment their spines will continue to curve and rotate as they grow.  This unfortunately can result in rapid progression of the condition potentially leading to physical deformity, discomfort, respiratory and heart problems.  The good news is that in the majority of cases this rapid growth can also be the CURE.

For more information visit the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program

From the back cover:

In 2008, our son Cole, was born with Progressive Infantile Scoliosis.  He was diagnosed at 15 months old and by 17 months old started treatment, using serial body casting with the hope of avoiding surgery.  My husband wrote this book to help explain the condition and the treatment to our young son, in a fun, simple way.  We are happy to share that in 2010 his treatment successfully cured his scoliosis.  Today Cole is 4 years old and has a 2 degree curve. He is expected to continue to grow straight.

Don't have a kid with scoliosis? - Don't worry it is a great story for any child, and would make a fantastic donation to a library, or doctors office.

All proceeds from this book go to the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program.  The Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program helps train doctors in and connect parents to this life saving treatment (serial body casting).