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MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Strong, courageous, and driven are three words used to describe Emily Beck, a resident of Minot and champion for individuals with scoliosis.
"Emily is very energetic and extremely driven," said Lauren Elm, director of public and community relations at the Shriners Hospital-Twin Cities. "Emily is amazing, extremely humble, and she is and will continue to do great things."
Greatness is something everyone can strive for, and Beck's determination to increase awareness of scoliosis earned her the prestigious Rainbow of Hope Award, the Bismarck Tribune (http://bit.ly/1S4Brup ) reported. This extraordinary honor is bestowed by Shriners International, to people who have demonstrated exemplary mentoring to peers, and community outreach while overcoming a physical limitation.
Just over a year ago, Beck's positive attitude won over Elm and everyone who had the chance to meet her.
"I got to know Emily last year," Elm said. "In May of last year, we announced three Rainbow of Hope Awards. The Rainbow of Hope Award is an award given to patients or former patients who are giving back to their community. Emily received the award because she does a lot for the community."
In high school, Beck was a member of the National Honor Society, tennis team, and science club before pursuing her studies at the University of Minnesota.
"Emily has chosen a path in medicine," Elm said. "She was inspired by the care she received at the Shriners Hospital."
Beck embraces the challenges that come with scoliosis and through sheer determination, leads a transformative life that positively impacts everyone she meets.
"Having scoliosis is definitely a challenge," Elm said. "Emily took that challenge and looked at the positives of it."
Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine, and according to the National Scoliosis Foundation, less than four percent of the U.S. population is affected by this condition.
For over 90 years, the Shriners Hospital for Children has been a trusted name and provider of medical services.
"The Shriners Hospital for children is a hospital that is part of a 22 hospital system," Elm said. "We have 20 hospitals in the U.S., and one hospital in Canada and another hospital in Mexico."
Courteous staff, state of the art technology and numerous specialists have ensured that children receive high quality medical care.
"Our Twin Cities location specializes in orthopedics," Elm said. "We treat children with muscle, bone, and joint conditions. We see a lot of different specialties, and one of those is scoliosis. We treat scoliosis by making orthotic braces. Generally, the kids start by wearing a back brace until the curve gets to a certain degree. If necessary, we provide surgery."
Beck and her family found comfort and support from the Shriners Hospital for Children Twin-Cities.
"Due to the long drive, Emily and her family would need to travel the day before their appointment," Elm said. "So, the Shriners would pay for their hotel stay on site. The funds raised by the Shriner Circus benefits the patients by helping to fund transportation to the hospital."
Ken Gillespie is a well-respected and highly accomplished member of the Minot Shrine Club. Also known as "Dizzy the Clown," Gillespie loves helping children and being a longstanding member of the Shriners.
"I've been with the Shriners for 43 years," Gillespie said. "My father was a Shriner and it's like a family tradition."
Taking care of families is important to both the Shriners and their hospitals.
"The Shriners have always been a huge part of the hospital," Elm said. "The Shriners drive patients and their families from their homes to the hospital. This saves families the cost of transportation, and reduces the stress that comes with driving."
The performers of the Shrine Circus are one of the driving forces that inspire doctors and patients alike.
"I just went to the East-West Shrine Games in January at Tropicana Field," Gillespie said. "A lot of our children were there meeting the clowns and having a good time. We were blowing up balloons and clowning around for the kids, just trying to take their minds off what they are going through."
At the Shrine Hospital for Children-Twin Cities, a new medical advancement will help patients by reducing exposure to radiation during x-rays, and helping radiologist along with physicians to gain a closer examination of the spine.
"We're really excited because we will be getting an EOS Imaging System," Elm said. "It's new technology, that reduces radiation up to 90 percent, which is important for our young patients, as they are having numerous x-rays over their adolescent years. In addition to reducing radiation, the EOS gives us 3-D pictures which provides the radiologist and physicians a better look at what's going on in the spine and other parts of the body."
Elm is excited about the impact that the EOS can have toward helping patients.
"We're the second hospital in Minnesota to have this equipment," Elm said. "Currently, we're trying to raise $750,000 for this equipment. We feel that it's very important for our patients to have this equipment, and we're working hard to raise the money for it."
Working hard is something that every staff member, Shriner, and patient does at the Shriner Hospital for Children.
Elm is devoted to helping children and families receive the best care possible.
"At the Shriners Hospital for Children, all the care is provided regardless of the families' ability to pay," Elm said. "We do take insurance, but for families unable able to make their co-pays and deductibles, we have ways to work with them. So, to me in a day and age where health care is really controlled by the insurance you have, it feels good to be a part of an organization where that's not the primary concern. It feels good to focus our care on what the kids need, and help the children lead healthy lives so they can enjoy being kids."
While Elm and the staff of professionals tend to the medical needs of the patients, Shriners like Gillespie bring laughter and charity to the world renowned hospital.
"It's amazing what the Shriners do," Elm said. "Their dedication to the patients really makes a difference in the hospitals."
Making a difference is what drives Beck. As a former patient, and proud resident of Minot, Beck is on a mission to spread awareness of scoliosis.
It's Elm's understanding that Beck plans to study neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. "Her path towards medicine was inspired by the care she received here at the Shriners Hospital for Children," she said.
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Information from: Minot Daily News, http://www.minotdailynews.com
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