CRAB ORCHARD, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — It was a day fit for royalty in Crab Orchard as 5-year-old “Princess” Addison Reed greeted her “subjects”, making her way down Main Street in a horse-drawn carriage.
Addison’s mom, Cortney Reed, says, “Today is all about Addie Mae and being a princess.”
New storm shelters coming to Scott County in response to 2021 tornado Being a princess is how Addison, known as “Princess Addie” lives her life.
“If she has a chore or something, she’ll say, I can’t. I’m a princess. Call me Princess Addie. So, it’s just Princess, Princess, Princess,” Addison’s mom Cortney said.
Addison’s life hasn’t always been easy for royalty. She suffers from congenital spine abnormalities, which forced her to wear a halo brace for the past 3 years, but she doesn’t let that stop her.
Cortney said, “It doesn’t slow her down for sure. That brace is, I mean, you can obviously see it physically, but you wouldn’t be able to tell she had it on if you couldn’t see it.”
Princes Addie is set to undergo spinal surgery on August 2 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she will have her vertebrae fused to support her back, allowing her to swap the halo brace for a crown.
Cortney said, “She’ll be six weeks without activity and stuff like that, but after that, she should be able to just be a typical five-year-old and do whatever.”
Addison is loved by everyone who knows her, so it’s no surprise that the community wanted to come out and show their support by having a ‘Princess Addie Parade’ before she heads into surgery.
Cortney said, “Everybody’s rooting for her, praying for her, hoping for the best, says her mom. “And it’s just to show her that she can do it. We got this. It’s going to be good.”
Addison’s mom said she is no stranger to this medical condition, though.
Three years ago, her son and Addie’s older brother died. He also suffered from spinal issues.
According to Cortney, doctors told her it may or may not be genetic, but it’s rare to have two children with the same condition.
Reflecting, Reed says, “It’s a sad situation to go through either way. She has her medical issues, but we’re going to get through those.”
Knowing how challenging it is to have a child with medical issues, Cortney shared her approach to parenting.
“You can’t control what’s going on. Obviously, you can’t control the outcome, so just be positive, uplifting, and I think if the parent is positive and uplifting, it makes the kid more positive.”
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Princess Addie said she loves getting mail. They’ve received hundreds of cards from people wishing her good luck and sending positive thoughts.
If you’d like to send the Princess a card to let her know you’ve been thinking about her, you can send it to PO BOX 226, Crab Orchard, KY, 40419.
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