FW: surgery. Postop Gratitude.

The email was sent to me this evening from one of our adult scoliosis patients in early healing period after her reconstructive surgery.
Lloyd A. Hey, MD MS
Spine Surgeon
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery, Raleigh NC  USA
http://www.heyclinic.com

------ Forwarded Message
From: KATHERINE
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 19:04:08 -0400
To: Lloyd Hey <>
Subject: surgery

Dr Hey,    

You must have known how you were about to change my life, but I had no idea.  Once again I will try to express my post-surgery appreciation.   I had folks all over America praying for me, so I now thank God for both your skill and the power of prayer. There are not words to show my gratitude.  I'm walking now with a walker, but will soon switch to a cane.  I know that eventually I will live normally again.  The constant pain, with levels as high as ten of ten, has all but disappeared (A couple nerves are fussing about having to come back to life.) and my atrophied leg muscles are regaining strength.  I had given up hope for this level of normalcy.

Rex rehab in Apex was a great follow-up to your surgery.  They have a trained back therapist on staff (Stacey) and she worked me hard.  I had three hours a day of therapy interspersed with hours of boredom and sleep.  I had been wheelchair bound for five weeks with unusable legs.  But, two and a half weeks after your awesome surgery, I walked out the door on a walker, able to climb stairs and walk the length of a football field before resting a minute or two then doing it again.  

You are my hero.   Thank you.    Kit


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Today's Hey Clinic Scoliosis Surgery: 35 yo woman w/ severe double curve scoliosis

Just finished helping a delightful 35 yo woman named “Katie”, who had a very severe double curve scoliosis.  She has a 25 lb child, and has noticed progression of her deformity over past several years, but has always noticed her severe rib hump and lumbar hump.
She did very well with surgery today.
Surgical time:  4 hours 55 minutes.
Estimated Blood Loss:   2600 cc.
Blood Transfused:  None.
Evoked Potential Monitoring:  Normal Motor and Sensory throughout.
Correction:  Excellent.  Her posture at end of surgery showed dramatic correction of both “humps.”

Following surgery I got to meet w/ a couple of her sisters, but patient wanted to be sure that we shared her X-Rays so her other siblings and family members could get an update and see the pictures!

Due to the strength of her hardware construct, we will let her pick up her baby right away and advance quickly on her walking program!

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Lloyd A. Hey, MD MS
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh, NC USA
http://www.heyclinic.com