Meet the 2019 Queens...
West Queen Elliannah Brown
My name is Elliannah Brown. I will be a Sophomore at Newberg High School this coming fall. I am 15 and I have two younger sisters; Emma and Arleyna. I enjoy reading, singing, playing games and spending time with family and friends. I'm excited to join my high school's Symphonic Choir this fall and continue singing in our Church choir as well. I've always been fond of animals. We have a Boston Terrier named Brooklyn.
In December of 2016 at my well child visit, our pediatrician noticed I had a slight curve in my upper spine. A year later she sent me in for a base line x-ray. We discovered that the scoliosis was more pronounced than expected. We were immediately referred to Shriners hospital for further consultation. We decided that bracing was my best option. In March 2018 I received the Boston Brace. The first few months of wearing it were an enormous struggle for me. After a while, wearing it became second nature. I am forever grateful for the prompt help of the technicians in the orthopedics department in helping adjust the brace so I could be less uncomfortable.
I am so glad to have this opportunity as the West Shrine Queen to represent Shriners in helping children all over who are experiencing these troubles, know that they are not alone in their difficulties. I am very grateful to Shriners for giving me a chance at having a normal life again, and for helping to correct my posture. I owe them my life, for they gave it back to me. Now, I not only stand tall for my peers, but I stand tall for people all around the world who are like me, bent but not broken.
East Queen Katie Cherry
Katie is fourteen years old and lives in Eugene, Oregon with her parents and sister. At the age of eight, Katie became a Shriners patient when she was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis. Doctors told her she had a high potential of surgery due to her young age and curves that measured 34 and 27 degrees. In order to keep her curves from progressing, she was put into a Boston brace. After four years of receiving outstanding care from Shriners and consistently wearing her brace 20 hours a day, Katie’s curves significantly decreased to 10 and 9 degrees, and she no longer needs to be braced. She will continue to attend Shriners until she is fully grown in order to ensure that her spine stays straight.
Being an active teenager, Katie enjoys creating art, photography, spending time with her church youth group, listening to music, and goofing off with her eleven year-old sister, Ava. Katie surfs in the summer, snowboards in the winter, and plays basketball and hikes with her family throughout the year. Katie also delights in spending time with her Classical Conversations homeschool co-op friends. For the last five years, Katie has been a Curvy Girls Scoliosis Support Group leader in the Eugene area. Curvy Girls is a “peer led support group empowering pre-teen and teen girls to become leaders, make healthy lifestyle choices, and improve self-esteem by diminishing the emotional impact of scoliosis.” Curvy Girls seeks to help girls find their voice through support and acceptance.
Katie is thankful for all the people who volunteer and work at Shriners. Whenever she steps off the elevator and onto the hospital floor, there is always a smiling face happy to greet Katie and check her in. The receptionists, orthotists, nurses, x-ray technicians, and doctors are friendly and supportive to all patients. Katie appreciates that Shriners provides excellent, life-changing care to children throughout the United States.
Katie says, “Thank you, Shriners, for all the support you have given our family and to countless families throughout Oregon. I am honored to be the 2019 Oregon East Shrine Queen, and I am excited to advocate for Shriners hospital and the meaningful care they provide to countless children.”
Being an active teenager, Katie enjoys creating art, photography, spending time with her church youth group, listening to music, and goofing off with her eleven year-old sister, Ava. Katie surfs in the summer, snowboards in the winter, and plays basketball and hikes with her family throughout the year. Katie also delights in spending time with her Classical Conversations homeschool co-op friends. For the last five years, Katie has been a Curvy Girls Scoliosis Support Group leader in the Eugene area. Curvy Girls is a “peer led support group empowering pre-teen and teen girls to become leaders, make healthy lifestyle choices, and improve self-esteem by diminishing the emotional impact of scoliosis.” Curvy Girls seeks to help girls find their voice through support and acceptance.
Katie is thankful for all the people who volunteer and work at Shriners. Whenever she steps off the elevator and onto the hospital floor, there is always a smiling face happy to greet Katie and check her in. The receptionists, orthotists, nurses, x-ray technicians, and doctors are friendly and supportive to all patients. Katie appreciates that Shriners provides excellent, life-changing care to children throughout the United States.
Katie says, “Thank you, Shriners, for all the support you have given our family and to countless families throughout Oregon. I am honored to be the 2019 Oregon East Shrine Queen, and I am excited to advocate for Shriners hospital and the meaningful care they provide to countless children.”
