Greenville, S.C.-based Shriners Hospital for Children patient Jack Mickey, 4, underwent his 22nd spinal procedure as treatment for a rare spinal disease he was diagnosed with.
To help cheer Jack up postoperative, hundreds of Twitter users sent photos and facts of his favorite animal, turtles, to the hashtag #Turtles4Jack, The Washington Post reports.
Here are seven details:
1. Jack was diagnosed with early onset progressive infantile scoliosis at 9 months old. Since then, he has had to wear a full torso cast comprised of plaster and fiberglass to help his spine grow straight, according to the report.
2. Every six to eight weeks, Jack travels to Shriners Hospital for Children to get his cast reconstructed to adjust for his growth.
3. Jack undergoes full anesthesia for the procedure, which can take up to multiple hours, according to the report.
4. For Jack's Nov. 30 procedure, his mother, Sandy Mickey, sent a tweet out on Twitter with the hashtag #Turtles4Jack asking for users to send photos, facts and stories about turtles to help boost Jack's spirits.
5. To Ms. Mickey's surprise, hundreds of tweets came in, which helped keep Jack distracted as hospital staff performed post-operation duties, she told The Washington Post.
6. Peter Stasikelis, MD, Jack's orthopedic surgeon at Shriners, told The Post while the treatments are universally effective, he acknowledges the whole situation can put a large amount of stress on a family.
7. To keep spirits up, Dr. Stasikelis said things such as #Turtles4Jack can be "lifesaving," according to the report.