Thanks to former patient, Hailey Rinaldi, Upstate Orthopedics is able to provide scoliosis patients with additional support and comfort when facing bracing therapy or surgical intervention. Hailey recently completed her third donation of Higgy Bears to Upstate Orthopedics – stuffed bear companions equipped with scoli braces or fusion scars to soothe and encourage newly treated patients.
Hailey is a nursing student entering her senior year at St. John Fisher, from Westhill High School’s Class of 2021, who began her scoliosis journey with Upstate Orthopedics at the age of 9. She wore a scoliosis brace for 5 years, then was recommended for spinal fusion surgery as a senior in high school. When she first learned about her need for surgery, Hailey went home to search the internet for more information and to read other patients’ stories, and while she was able to find some of the answers she sought, she felt that PEOPLE were lacking from the guidance.
Then she found Lauren Higginson, scoliosis patient and founder of Higgy Bears.
On the Higgy Bears website (www.higgybears.com), Hailey connected with Lauren’s story, and valued the community that Lauren is working to build. One year later, when she was approaching the anniversary of her surgery, Hailey wanted to give other scoliosis patients the advice and counsel she herself had desired. She started a fundraiser for purchasing Higgy Bears that she donated to Upstate Orthopedics and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital to be given to children when starting their bracing treatment or preparing for surgery. Hailey included notes of support with these bears, scoliosis resources for both patients and their families, as well as her Instagram handle through which she shares her own story. Over the past two years of her donations, Hailey has had multiple patients (and parents!) reach out to her for support, allowing her to see first-hand the impact she is making.
At the time of her treatment, Hailey recalls being embarrassed and self-conscious wearing her brace, but over the past few years she has connected with many children and young adults who were also braced, and she states that she had no idea how many kids were going through her same experience. Through her philanthropy with Higgy Bears, she has been able to open conversations around scoliosis and its treatments, and build community for those involved. Looking back at her journey, Hailey knows that ultimately she had a great experience, praising the tremendous support from her parents and her family, but she knows not every kid has the same. Being able to donate she says, “…is a full circle moment. [Scoliosis] has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. It was a big negative but knowing that I can provide support helps bring the positivity.”
Hailey times her fundraiser around the anniversary of her surgery and keeps her information available on social media so new patients and their families can follow her surgery and see where she is today. Now on her third year of fundraising, Hailey utilizes flyers, word of mouth, and social media to reach new and repeat donors, and often receives personal donations from people with whom she interacts. Lauren Higginson also shares the news of Hailey’s fundraising efforts.
Three years out of surgery, Hailey is healthy and active, and proving to be a leader in many areas of life. In addition to her nursing student clinicals, Hailey is a peer mentor to first year students at St. John Fisher, and she is on the Board for the Student Nursing Association. She is currently working through an externship in pediatrics at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester through the summer, and she highlights her strong interest and appreciation for orthopedics, citing how well she was treated by her medical team with Upstate and Upstate Orthopedics.
We are incredibly grateful for Hailey and we are inspired by her contribution to this community. Hailey herself gives immediate thanks to her amazing parents and family for being so supportive. “Thank you to my dad, my mom, and my little sister. Year after year they are the ones helping. They help put the care packages together… they have been the world to me.”
For more information on Higgy Bears, visit www.higgybears.com. To support Hailey’s journey, and receive information for future fundraising efforts, follow @haileyscoliosis on Instagram.
