On March 7, 2021, her mom notices she can’t stand up straight, a month later she receives news that throws her life into chaos.

Sitting in a cold, unsettling hospital room, AnnaSophia Hein looks at the x-ray displayed in front of her. Where a traditionally straight spine should be, an exaggerated S sits in its place.

At 14 she’s diagnosed with severe scoliosis.

At 14 she’s forced to wear a suffocating brace 20 hours a day.

At 14 her average, teenage life flipped on its head.

Simple tasks such as eating a snack in class, picking up a dropped pencil, or participating in gym become impossible. Her brace steals away her ability to continue living the same way. She no longer feels comfortable in her own skin.

But instead of letting her back ruin her life, AnnaSophia makes the best of her situation. With family and friends to support her, she takes each day one step at a time — relearning how to go about everyday life with her brace. She changes her wardrobe, the way she sleeps, and her eating habits. For months she perseveres, creating a new normal for herself and those close to her.

Eventually, as AnnaSophia overcomes her own challenges, she yearns to help others. Having been through so much, she wants to provide insight and support to others facing the same challenges as her. So, she volunteers to speak on a panel for the Milwaukee Children’s Hospital, sharing her story about scoliosis and wearing a back brace.

“I want to acknowledge those who are also struggling with scoliosis and help them by sharing my story.”

AnnaSophia still struggles with her brace, but she finds that sharing her story with a community and helping others who face similar challenges helps her overcome her own.