Six Degrees

I’m not talking about a game involving Kevin Bacon. We got news this week about six degrees that was tremendously, stupendously, fantastic!

Six degrees isn't large in any regard that I can think of. It is merely one-sixtieth of a circle. That's a low 1.66%. Six degrees of temperature isn't much. I would barely notice the difference between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

Isn't that the way life is, though? Those surprising instances when something minuscule can have an out-sized impact on your life. Pliny the Younger was diagnosed with scoliosis and had to see a specialist for evaluation and treatment.

They fitted her for a brace that resembles, to me, an odd-looking corset. The exterior of it is a rigid plastic material. Inside, it has a softer, foam-like material. It has Velcro straps that are used to tighten around her rib cage.

This device puts pressure on one side of her body while leaving room for movement on the opposite side. We have to cinch it down fairly tightly. She needs to wear it every evening before bed and while she is sleeping.

Pliny the Younger frequently states that it hurts somewhat. It makes her feel too hot. The brace squeezes her ribs, not painfully, but uncomfortably. Yet, despite this, she wears it faithfully. She rarely complains about the brace.

I am so proud of how quickly and fully she has adapted to this new way of life. Doctors tell us she will not have to wear the brace forever, but she will need one until her growth plates harden, which should be around age fifteen or sixteen.

A few nights ago, I tried to compliment her on how well she was doing wearing the brace every night. She admonished me, saying she had not worn it every night. It was forgotten one night when she was sick and taking cold medicine; she informed me. I couldn't seem to get her to understand that missing a single night because of illness was perfectly understandable.

A common refrain of mine is I have amazing kids. I mean this with my whole being. Pliny the Elder has focused on the creative arts and is a talented singer and stage performer. Pliny the Younger is gifted academically and is astoundingly empathetic and compassionate for her age. There have been many occasions when she has verbalized her reading of other people that has been far above my ability.

Both of them are amazingly kind and considerate of others. I know they are much more compassionate than I was at their ages. I can tell this is my wonderful wife's doing. She has instilled her enormous heart and selflessness in these young people.

Those six degrees I mentioned at the beginning, if you haven't parsed it out for yourself, are the amount of improvement in Pliny the Younger's spinal curvature. In a mere few months, she has improved by 33%. If she continues to improve, she will probably not require surgery. Once her growth plates fuse and she is no longer getting taller, we can dispose of the brace, and she will be in no danger of regression.

I'm elated at the prospect of her being able to correct this issue without surgical intervention. A friend of mine growing up had rods in his back to correct scoliosis, and it caused issues for him.

I merely wanted to take a second to say that we all have challenges to overcome in life. I hope I will face things with the grace and acceptance that Pliny the Younger has shown. I am humbled by her ability to adapt.