On Tuesday, Mairin Nolan shared a deeply personal and urgent appeal that has begun circulating among compassionate users online. In her post, she describes the heart-breaking progression of her daughter Roxanne’s severe scoliosis and makes a direct call for support:
“Roxanne’s journey is heart-breaking her severe scoliosis has worsened, she needs to travel abroad. Please share her story and consider contributing. Together, we can make a difference! #HelpRoxanne #KidsCantWait #scoliosisawares”
Attached to the message is a link to a GoFundMe campaign titled “Urgent Call to Help Roxanne.” The fundraiser, which Mairin appears to have created or is actively promoting, seeks financial assistance to cover the substantial costs of specialized medical treatment unavailable locally.
Scoliosis — an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine — affects millions worldwide, but in severe cases (typically curves exceeding 40–50 degrees), it can cause significant pain, reduced lung function, heart complications, visible deformity, and progressive disability if left untreated. For growing children and adolescents like Roxanne, timely intervention is especially critical; delaying care often leads to more complex (and more expensive) surgeries later.
Many families in countries with strained public healthcare systems or limited access to advanced paediatric spinal centres face the same difficult choice Mairin describes: seek life-changing treatment abroad or watch the condition worsen. Common destinations for such care include specialized hospitals in the United States, Germany, Turkey, South Korea, or other nations known for high-volume, innovative scoliosis programs (including vertebral body tethering, advanced fusion techniques, or non-fusion options for younger patients).
Although specific medical details about Roxanne’s current curve magnitude, age, symptoms, or recommended procedure are not publicly detailed in the post itself, Mairin’s language conveys urgency and frustration — emotions familiar to any parent who has watched a child’s health deteriorate while waiting for viable options at home.
The hashtags she chose #HelpRoxanne, #KidsCantWait, and #scoliosisawares — reflect both a personal cry for help and an attempt to raise broader awareness. Paediatric scoliosis often receives less public attention than more common childhood illnesses, leaving families to fundraise independently for surgeries that can cost tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars when performed internationally, including travel, hospital fees, implants, rehabilitation, and follow-up care.
Mairin has previously posted updates expressing gratitude for early support and emphasizing that “Roxanne’s story needs to be heard and seen… for her and all the children affected.” These messages suggest the family has already received some community kindness but still faces a steep financial mountain.
Medical crowdfunding campaigns like this one occupy a difficult space: they rely entirely on the generosity of strangers, viral sharing, and timing. Success stories exist — children who received corrective surgery after campaigns reached their goals — yet countless others quietly fall short. Every share, donation, or retweet can therefore represent a meaningful step toward changing one child’s future quality of life.
If Roxanne’s story resonates with you, the most direct ways to help are:
– Visiting the linked GoFundMe page to read the full story and contribute if you are able
– Sharing Mairin’s post (or this article) with your networks
– Raising awareness about paediatric scoliosis and the unequal access to timely specialist care
No child should have their future mobility, breathing, or self-confidence determined by postcode or bank balance. Roxanne — and countless other children in similar situations — can’t wait. Community action may be the bridge that gets her the care she needs.
To support Roxanne directly, you can do so with her GoFundMe here.
