By DeChelle Jones

There is a student here at Loy Norrix that has a very rare disease called “Osteogenesis Imperfecta,” better known as Brittle-Bone Disease. This disease is usually an inherited disorder that causes bones to break easily due to the body’s low production of collagen, the fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, and tendon.

Though this is a very rare disease, there is a cure for it.  Bolting a titanium rod to the inside of the spine will keep it straightened.  

This surgery could determine this student’s life in two possible ways.  It could either be a total success or result in total paralsis below the waist.

There are six different types of brittle bone disease. Depending on the type of brittle bone disease a person has, the impact the disease has on the person’s  life changes; some people are severely affected by the disease while others are able to live a relatively normal life.  This student is one case of those severely affected by the disease.

This surgery will be taking place during the week of April 1^st, 2011.   The student will have six to eight weeks to recover and regain muscle strength.

We hope that this student’s surgery will be successful and wish that the student recovers and is well when this surgery and healing process is over.

“I feel that this article can help raise awareness of this disease and that most people with it [the disease] can learn how to treat it [the disease] as it should be,” said the student getting the surgery, who wished to remain anonymous.