A talented young footballer is speaking out about her experience of scoliosis after a painful journey that saw her undergo major spinal surgery and spend a year away from the sport she loves.
Erin was just 12 years old when her parents first noticed something wasn’t right. While swimming, one of her shoulder blades appeared more prominent than the other and further signs of misalignment in her shoulders and hips followed.
She was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that causes a curvature of the spine and, for Erin, brought daily challenges.
“The pain could be breathtaking,” she said, describing what she experienced after playing sport.
Sitting in class, standing for long periods, lying flat on her back, or even playing football could trigger severe discomfort.
Erin needed regular monitoring, including multiple X-rays each year, to track the progression of her condition. The appointments often meant missing school and time with friends, impacting both her education and social life.
At the age of 14, Erin underwent spinal surgery. The procedure was life-changing, but recovery meant stepping away from football entirely for a year.
However, her determination never wavered and she has an incredible footballing future ahead of her.
Erin, who trains with Cambridge United and Peterborough United and has played in the Junior Premier League, has taken part in England trials, and has won a football scholarship in the United States, hopefully starting next year.
Her story is now helping to shine a light on the experience of young people living with scoliosis and the importance of how their condition is monitored.
Children like Erin often require repeated imaging over many years, meaning they are exposed to regular doses of radiation from standard X-rays.
Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals Charity is raising funds for a new low-dose EOS X-ray machine, which would dramatically reduce radiation exposure while providing more detailed images for clinicians.
The charity hopes the technology will transform care for young patients with conditions like scoliosis making diagnosis and long-term monitoring safer.
Get in touch with our charity if you would like to change the future for children like Erin, or visit our JustGiving page.