Abbie Donnelly found out she had scoliosis in an unusual way. “My friends noticed a bump on my back when I bent over.” While it seemed to appear suddenly, Abbie’s mom, Cheryl Donnelly, had already suspected something. “We kind of suspected it because it runs in the family, but we didn’t actually get the diagnosis until June of last year.”
While Cheryl knew there was a possibility Abbie could develop scoliosis, the severity of the condition came as a shock. “It wasn’t the diagnosis that shocked me; it was the degree of the curve. As soon as I started looking at the report, everything pointed to surgery.”
The need for surgery was clear early on, but the Donnelly family quickly encountered challenges. “In BC, you could wait about a year just to see a specialist, then another one to two years for surgery. By then, the curve can get much worse,” Cheryl explained. “Waiting longer could have meant more invasive treatment.”
As time passed, Abbie began to feel the physical impact of her condition. “Walking uphill hurt, skiing started to hurt, and I would get side stitches. It definitely limited what I could do. I also had breathing problems because it was pushing on my diaphragm,” she shared.
Facing long wait times and a child in pain, Cheryl began to feel overwhelmed until a conversation with her mother changed everything. “She said, ‘I remember hearing something about a group that helps with scoliosis. Just Google it.’ So I did, and that’s how I found the Shriners.”
Shriners is an organization rooted in the principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth, with a long-standing reputation for philanthropy, particularly through Shriners Children’s hospitals. These specialized hospitals across North America provide care to children regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
Locally, Mountain Shrine Club #44 is part of the provincial Gizeh Shriners of BC and plays a direct role in supporting families like the Donnellys. The club fundraises throughout the year, with a portion of funds staying in the community and the rest contributing to a provincial fund that covers expenses for children travelling to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Mountain Shrine Club also serves as the sponsor club for children in the area, helping guide families through the process and ensuring they receive the support they need.
The Donnelly family connected with local Shriners members Darren Dusevic and Eddie Leigan, who helped guide them through the process. “We didn’t need a referral. We applied online, sent in her X-rays, and within three weeks, we were accepted,” Cheryl said.
Beyond medical care, the Shriners provided comprehensive support. They assisted with logistics and covered expenses such as flights, accommodations, meals, and transportation. “They just took it all out of our hands. It removed so much stress from the situation,” Cheryl explained.
Just as importantly, they gave the family something invaluable: time. “From diagnosis to surgery was about eight months, which is incredible compared to typical wait times,” Cheryl said.
In early February, they received the call. Abbie’s surgery was scheduled for the end of the month at Shriners Children’s in Montreal. “It felt really fast for me,” Abbie recalled. “They put the mask on, I fell asleep, and then I woke up, and it was over.”
For Cheryl, the experience felt much longer. After seven hours of waiting, she was finally able to see her daughter. While the surgery was successful, Abbie had a humorous reaction coming out of anesthesia. “I got a video of her singing at the top of her lungs,” Cheryl said.
Abbie’s surgeon was Dr. Jean Ouellet, Clinical Director of Scoliosis and Spine Surgery at both Shriners Hospital for Children Canada and the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Who, the family can’t thank enough.
During their stay in Montreal, the Shriners ensured both comfort and support. Abbie had a private room with space for Cheryl to stay, and volunteers from McGill University visited regularly. “They would come hang out with me. We would colour or play games. It was something to look forward to,” Abbie shared.
Recovery is a gradual process. It takes about six months for Abbie’s spine to fully fuse, requiring her to avoid sports and even miss school. “It’s hard not to do things I’m not allowed to, because I feel so good. You have to remind yourself,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Abbie’s outlook remains positive. Without the Shriners, her journey would look very different. “Without them, we probably wouldn’t have even had a consult yet,” Cheryl said.
The support did not end after surgery. Local Shriners members continue to check in on Abbie, reinforcing a sense of community and care that has made a lasting impact. “They made something really overwhelming feel manageable,” Cheryl reflected.
For the Donnelly family, what began as a worrying diagnosis could have meant years of waiting and uncertainty. Instead, with the help of the Shriners and their local supporters, Abbie received timely care and a clear path forward.
