From Bears to Belonging: Why Scoliosis Support Should Grow With Us
When I first learned about Higgy Bears, it immediately tugged at my heart. These are not just adorable stuffed animals with tiny braces or stitched scars. They are companions. They are connection. They are comfort in the hands of a child who may feel different, scared, or unsure of what lies ahead.
Lauren Higginson, the founder of Higgy Bears, created something beautiful out of her own scoliosis experience. What started as a single bear with a handmade brace has grown into a global nonprofit reaching over 40,000 children and teens in 165 countries. Through Higgy Zooms, Higgy Friends groups, and the magic of HiggyCon, it is a movement rooted in one simple truth. Kids with scoliosis should never have to feel alone.
But as I listened to Lauren share her story on the podcast, another truth became clear to me too. These kids grow up.
The children who once clutched Higgy Bears at their clinic visits or shared stories in Zoom calls will eventually become adults. Their needs will change, but their experience with scoliosis will still be a part of them. For some, the curve may stabilize. For others, pain or progression might surface in new ways. Regardless of how their scoliosis unfolds, the emotional weight of it—the need for support, understanding, and connection—never truly disappears.
And yet, as we grow older, the kind of support we once received as children can become harder to find. The comfort and community that Higgy Bears provides can stay with us forever, but the resources available for adults with scoliosis often feel scattered or out of reach.
That is why I created Scoliosis Education Network. It is not meant to replace what Higgy Bears offers. In fact, it continues what Lauren began. While her mission focuses on children and teens, mine holds space for adults who are navigating the next stage. That may include those who are questioning surgery, recovering from it, or living with years of wear and tear on a fused spine.
I often say that representation matters just as much at 45 as it does at 14. Adults need to feel seen too. We need stories that reflect our reality, resources that empower us, and a community that reminds us we are not forgotten.
Higgy Bears and Scoliosis Education Network are not separate worlds. They are chapters in the same story. If you were once that child with a brace, or you are raising one now, I want you to know that there is a place for you here too. The care, connection, and courage you found then are still available now.
We do not age out of the need to be understood.
We grow into it.
And if you are looking for a way to give back, consider supporting Higgy Bears. You can sponsor bears for kids, start a local Higgy Friends group, or fundraise to help get more bears into the arms of children who need them. It is a beautiful way to keep the spirit of connection going and remind the next generation that they are never alone.
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