Pectus Excavatum Awareness

01/01/2025

21/12/2024

December is Pectus Excavatum Awareness Month 🖤

Some facts about Pectus Excavatum:

* Pectus Excavatum occurs in approximately 1 out of 400 children.

* It’s more common in boys than girls.

* Pectus Excavatum tends to occur in familles, suggesting genetics could play a role.

* The chest may look more sunken in as a child grows.

* It’s commonly caused by cartilage that connects to the ribs to the breastbone.

* It can cause social anxiety, depression, loss of motivation, not wanting to participate in sports, and avoiding beaches and pool parties.

* Surgery is not done solely for cosmetic reasons. While children can be self-conscious about the shape of the chest, most patients are healthier after surgery to correct Pectus Excavatum. The main reason for surgery is to improve heart and lung function.

Pectus Excavatum Awareness

03/12/2024

December is Pectus Excavatum Awareness Month 🖤
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My platform is Pectus Excavatum Awareness. I, along with my sister & brother, were all born with Pectus Excavatum. We created a page/ blog, Pectus Excavatum Awareness, to share our journey, answer questions, as well as provide information and support to others with this condition.
•
Pectus Excavatum (a Latin term meaning hollowed chest) is a congenital deformity of the anterior wall of the chest, in which several ribs and the sternum grow abnormally. This produces a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest. It can either be present at birth or not develop until puberty. Depending on the severity, it can impair cardiac and respiratory function and cause pain in the chest and back. People with the abnormality may experience negative psychosocial effects, and avoid activities that expose the chest.
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In 2019 I had surgery, called the Nuss Procedure, where 2 bars were inserted into my chest, to repair my Pectus Excavatum. In 2022 I had the bars removed.
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Throughout the month of December I’ll be posting about my surgeries and experience with Pectus 🖤

20/06/2024

27/12/2023

December is Pectus Excavatum Awareness Month 🖤

•Pectus Excavatum can impair cardio and respiratory function and cause pain in the chest and the back.

•People with this condition may experience severe negative psychosocial effects and avoid activities that expose the chest.

As someone who has Pectus, I have had issues wearing certain pageant dresses, v-neck shirts, and swimsuits. I had to work harder at correcting my posture. As an athlete, I struggled with chest pain & catching my breath. Having the bars put in has helped a lot.

Pectus Excavatum Awareness

11/12/2023

December is Pectus Excavatum Awareness Month🖤

On July 15, 2022, I had surgery to correct my Pectus. I had 2 bars inserted into my chest (The Nuss Procedure). The surgery was about 2 1/2 hours long. I was in the hospital for a couple of days, 6 weeks at home on bed rest, and 3 months until I was fully recovered. The bars will stay in for 3 years. It is similar to how braces are used for straightening teeth.

What happens during the Nuss Procedure?

The Nuss procedure has several steps:

•The surgeon makes two small cuts in the side of the chest.
•The surgeon places one or more steel bars behind the breastbone and attaches them to the outer edge of the ribs.
•The surgeon uses a tiny camera to get the bars in the right place.
•The surgeon turns the bars, raising the breastbone.
•A metal plate (called a stabilizer), sutures (stitches), or wire is placed to hold the bars in place.

Pectus Excavatum Awareness

06/12/2023

It’s Pectus Excavatum Awareness Month🖤 I, along with my sister & brother, were all born with Pectus Excavatum.

On July 15, 2022 two bars were inserted into my chest to repair my Pectus Excavatum.

When my sister had surgery 4 years ago we knew very little about this condition and had never met anyone else with it. We decided to create a page Pectus Excavatum Awareness to share our journey with others with this condition. Since then, we have talked to families in New Jersey, Columbia, and the Netherlands!

Some facts about Pectus Excavatum:

•Pectus Excavatum occurs in approximately 1 out of 400 children.

•It’s more common in boys than girls.

•Pectus Excavatum tends to occur in families, suggesting genetics could play a role.

•The chest may look more sunken in as a child grows

•It’s commonly caused by cartilage that connects to the ribs to the breastbone.

•It can cause social anxiety, depression, loss of motivation, not wanting to participate in sports, and avoiding beaches and pool parties.

•Surgery is not done solely for cosmetic reasons. While children can be self-conscious about the shape of the chest, most patients are healthier after surgery to correct Pectus Excavatum. The main reason for surgery is to improve heart and lung function.

01/12/2023

December is Pectus Excavatum Awareness Month 🖤
•
As most of you know, my platform is Pectus Excavatum Awareness. I, along with my sister & brother, were all born with Pectus Excavatum. We created a page/blog, Pectus Excavatum Awareness, to share our journey, answer questions, as well as provide information and support to others with this condition.
•
Pectus excavatum (a Latin term meaning hollowed chest) is a congenital deformity of the anterior wall of the chest, in which several ribs and the sternum grow abnormally. This produces a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest. It can either be present at birth or not develop until puberty. Depending on the severity, it can impair cardiac and respiratory function and cause pain in the chest and back. People with the abnormality may experience negative psychosocial effects, and avoid activities that expose the chest.
•
In July of 2022 I had surgery, called the Nuss Procedure, where 2 bars were inserted into my chest, to repair my Pectus Excavatum.
•
Through the month of December I’ll be posting about my surgery and experience with Pectus 🖤

27/09/2023

As a follow-up for her Pectus Excavatum, Brooklyn had an appointment with her pediatric pulmonologist. She had a lung examination, called a pulmonary function test, and her lungs are clear but does show some restriction likely related to the Nuss bar placement. We will do another test when she gets the bars removed in 2 years.
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What Is Pectus Excavatum?
Pectus Excavatum is a condition in which the breastbone (sternum) of the chest is caved in.
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What is a Nuss bar? The Nuss procedure involves a concave stainless steel bar that is slipped under the sternum with the assistance of a scope (small camera) using two small incisions on each side of the chest. The bar is then flipped, and the sternum moves to the proper position. Due to the severity of her Pectus she had 2 bars placed.
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21/06/2023

Today Brooklyn had her 1 year check-up and everything is going great! She will have a 2nd surgery in 2 years to remove the bars (it’s like having braces for her chest bone).

21/06/2023

I absolutely LOVE my formal gown 💖 Due to my Pectus Excavatum, I have been unable to wear certain dresses. I had surgery last July, and this is the first v-neck gown I’ve been able to wear!

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Custom Earrings: