Hervey Bay veteran’s desperate plea to help son avoid life in wheelchair

A Hervey Bay father's heart-wrenching plea for help has revealed the six-month surgery wait his sports-loving teenage son faces despite a serious spinal condition.

An army veteran is fighting to get his teenage son the support he needs after the 15-year-old was diagnosed with severe scoliosis.

An army veteran is fighting to get his teenage son the support he needs after the 15-year-old was diagnosed with severe scoliosis.

Hervey Bay’s Dale Hanson said he first noticed the signs when he saw his son swimming.

His son, who he asked not to be named for privacy reasons, usually wore a rashie when he was in the pool, Mr Hanson said.

But on this day he didn’t, and Mr Hanson was able to clearly see the curve in his son’s spine.

From the centre of his son’s back, there is a 74 degree bend from the right back up to his neck, and down the bottom there is a 67 degree bend to the bottom of his spine.

On his right side, his ribs are also being affected by the degree of the curve, Mr Hanson said.

Unless it was addressed, his son was facing the prospect of life in a wheelchair.

The family has started a GoFundMe page to help get their son through the surgery, physio, home schooling and ongoing care.

He is currently facing a six-month wait for surgery, despite being on the shortlist.

“He will be basically bedridden and need 24 hour supervision while also needing to have daily physio,” Mr Hanson said.

“I myself being a veteran will struggle to help him with this.

“I just want my son to get all the help he can so he doesn’t end up in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

“I feel bad asking for help as an ex-soldier, but I was medically discharged and know how hard it is to go through life ‘broken’, and I don’t want that for my son.”

An Army veteran is fighting to get his teenage son the support he needs after the 15-year-old was diagnosed with severe scoliosis.

His son is facing months of rehab after the surgery and he won’t be able to walk for two weeks.

Mr Hanson intends to be with his son throughout the painful journey, while his wife will remain with their other children.

“It just sucks that he has to go through it – he just turned 15 yesterday,” he said.

His son was an active kid and it was hard to know he wouldn’t be able to play sports again.

Mr Hanson said his son had a passion for basketball and soccer.

He described his son as being “gentle and quiet”.

“He’s awesome, just loves being a kid.

“He’s just a gentle soul.”

Originally published as Hervey Bay veteran’s desperate plea to help son avoid life in wheelchair