Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) patient Morgan, age 17 of Plano, was recently named the 2008 Junior Race Director for the Dallas White Rock Marathon, presented by NexBank.
Morgan first discovered she had scoliosis at a routine doctor’s appointment. She was told she would need spine surgery to correct the curvature of her spine and that she would no longer be able to play basketball. A forward-center on her school’s basketball team, Morgan was unwilling to give up sports. She was referred to Dr. Daniel Sucato at TSRHC, and he gave her the hope she was searching for. Morgan would likely make a full recovery and would play basketball again.
In 2003, Morgan had spine surgery at TSRHC, and her recovery was even faster than anticipated. Within one year, she returned to the basketball court. Today, Morgan travels around the country playing competitively with her team and is hoping for a scholarship to play at the collegiate level. In addition to playing basketball, Morgan enjoys cooking and spending time with friends.
As Junior Race Director, Morgan will represent TSRHC and all of the children who benefit from the funds raised through the marathon. Each year the Dallas White Rock Marathon selects a TSRHC patient as the Junior Race Director to help sponsors and participants understand how TSRHC benefits from events such as the Dallas White Rock Marathon. The Junior Race Director participates in many race aspects, such as encouraging participants prior to the race and greeting spectators and runners at the finish line. The 2008 Dallas White Rock Marathon, presented by NexBank, will be held December 14, 2008. For more information about the marathon, please visit www.runtherock.com.
About TSRHC:
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is one of the nation’s leading pediatric centers for treatment of orthopedic conditions, certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. There is no charge to patient families for treatment at the hospital, and admission is open to Texas children from birth to 18 years of age. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please call (214) 559-5000 or (800) 421-1121 or visit www.tsrhc.org.
