Duke raleigh Hospital Fan w Dr. Hey

And yes, Duke also has a basketball team playing tonight v Arizona!

Go Duke!!

Garden next to Hey Clinic in full bloom

Cherry blossoms are awesome this year. Spring has arrived here in Raleigh NC!

40 yo man w painful 82 degree kyphosis fixed this am

Surgical time: 3 hr 45 min.
Correction: 82 deg to 28 degrees intra-op.
Complications none.
Ebl: 600 cc
Blood transfused: none.

This morning's scoliosis surgery

54 YO man w collapsing 32 degree lumbar scoliosis with disc herniations and severe stenosis.

Did well this am w T11-iliac wing instrumentation and fusion w TLIF at L23 and L5S1. Very good correction.

Ebl 900.
Cell saver: 360
Blood transfused: none.
Surgical time: 4 hours and a few minutes.

Room aura: very good. Dan updated us on Daytona and his new tattoo that he designed himself -- about time melting away! Got to make the most of it!

Yesterday I saw a gentleman from Michigan w 80 degree kyphosis for surgery tomorrow, followed by a 9 month old w a newly diagnoses early onset scoliosis (juvenile scoliosis) measuring 30 degrees. Yesterdays surgery was very complex T1-iliac wing extension instrumentation and fusion or severe kyphosis with fracture. She is doing well today.

Thank you note from one of our younger adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery guests

Got this nice and funny thank you note from Breanna recently. She thanks us for making her straight, and let us know that both she and her stuffed bear she calls "Captain Crook" appreciated our prayers.

At the end of her note she says "PS: I am a screwed up kid. Tee Hee! -- which brought a real chuckle at Hey Clinic for her reference to her new spinal hardware!

FW: Oh Happy Day :)

Bonnie had adult idiopathic scoliosis surgery with us several years ago, and has been looking and feeling great.  
She then brought her mom in who was really suffering with severe collapsing adult scoliosis, stenosis and spondylolisthesis.
Her mom is now recovering well, and Bonnie sent this note with a couple of pictures of her getting back to golf!!!

Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com


------ Forwarded Message
From: BONNIE
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:09:00 -0400
To: Lloyd Hey
Subject: Oh Happy Day :)

Dr. Hey,
 
Check it out!  Since we left your office recently, I can’t slow her down!
 
Not bad for 76 huh?
 
Thanks again for everything you’ve done for both of us.  We’ll miss you guys!
 
Love & Hugs,
 
Bonnie  

Re: Wonderful clinic visit today 3/18/11

On Mar 18, 2011, at 6:31 PM, "Craig&Susan" <@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Dr. Hey,
>
> What a pleasure it was to speak with you and your wonderful staff today. Halle, her Mom and I just read your blog. Halle was positively giddy and talked about how nice you were. You may have convinced a little girl who is already one of the most compassionate people I know that maybe she should be a people doctor instead of an animal doctor. I told her I would be proud of her in whatever endeavor she chooses. Thank you for kindness and compassion for my Mom and my family. My mother and I discussed how your practice is unlike so MANY we have EVER experienced. You show a true dedication to you field of practice but more importantly to your patients. So many times, we as patients feel like cattle being herded through turnstiles and not what we really are, people who are hurting and looking for answers. You are a true credit to your profession. The way you run your appointments shows a true respect for peoples time. You have everything set up on a thorough schedule but at the same time ensure that your patients have enough time for you to diagnose and treat your patients. You make them feel like they are heard and understood. I do not know if you realize how much this is missing in todays medical community. You have a true gift and I feel blessed that my Mom had the good fortune to be able to find you and see you. She has fought and suffered for such a long time in dealing with the polio and now post polio.
>
>
> Warmest regards,
>
> Craig, Susan and Halle
>
>
>

6 yo Halle explains how to fix scoliosis at Hey Clinic Today

After six year old Halle explained to us what was wrong with grandma's spine with the scoliosis, and the likely cause for her pain, she then explained to us how SHE thought this scoliosis could be treated!

She used her hands to explain how the spine was collapsing, and how it could be shifted and stabilized, and put back into better alignment.

The rest of us in the room, including me, Halle's dad and Grandma, and my physician's assistant sat in Wonder!

She just blew us away today!!! Watch out Doogie!! You've got competition.

Halle and her folks gave their permission to share this precious video and story with all of you.

Thanks for sharing Halle!

Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com

6 yo explains scoliosis at Hey Clinic!

I've seen a bunch of smaller kids in clinic this week as patients with Early Onset Scoliosis, but also as members of families coming in for a visit. Halle is 6 years old, and came in with her dad and grandma today to see me. Her grandma actually has scoliosis, and has progressive back pain and trouble walking.

When I put up Halle's grandma's X-Ray up on the big screen to show the family, Halle jumped up before I could say anything, and raised her hand and said, "I see the problem! Grandma's back is crooked, and is swayed over to the side, like this, (she shifts her hips to show me), and now that is causing her back to hurt!" I was blown away, and just had to laugh out loud! Wow! Her dad and grandma got a big charge out of it. Not only was Halle bold, but she actually diagnosed her grandma's scoliosis, and the likely cause for her pain. I asked Halle if she could explain it again, but this time I shot a short video which is attached. The sound quality isn't great on my little camera, but you get the point.

Kids say the darndest things, and times like this are precious for all of us. At this point Halle is planning to be a veternarian, but I think she has a real gift for spine surgery. Perhaps she will be the next Doogie Howser, M.D. !!

Halle and her dad and Grandma gave permission for us to share this with all of you today. Enjoy. I made a point to get this uploaded before I went home today, since I know Halle was looking forward to see it this evening. Thanks for sharing, Halle!!!

Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com

Can my daughter play competitive sports after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis or kyphosis surgery within the first year?

This is a question we get asked a lot.  In general, using modern surgical and instrumentation techniques, we are able to get our patients back to sports fairly quickly.

Here’s a nice note that we got from Maria’s mom, sharing some good news with us.  Maria and her mom gave their permission today to share these photos and the email with all of you!


On 3/18/11 10:49 AM, "Linda " <linda.a...com> wrote:

Dr. Hey-

As you can see, Maria is "back in full swing" so to speak with her  sports now.  Her confidence improves each game!

Patient: Maria Annunziata
Surgery Date:  9/1/10

Shelbi - feel free to post

Thank you,
lwa
Linda....

 

---

3/21 Game:  Cardinal Gibbons vs.  Northwood

Cardinal Gibbons  Varsity   Softball. Gibbons beat Northwood High School  for this first time in 4  years(7-3).    Maria was the leading hitter for this game, a  double, a triple and 4 RBI’s.   She also threw a batter out at first  base from right field.

The way to Dr. Hey's heart: Coffee! Many thanks for generous gift from Lexi's family for surgery video.

Yesterday I received an awesome thank you note and gift from Lexi and her family.

Stephen, our Hey Clinic Videographer, had made a special surgery video for Lexi’s kyphosis surgery, which he recently edited and completed.  Lexi is the teenager from Maryland who plays lacrosse and had the severe kyphosis we fixed for her.

Her folks sent this note:  

“Dr. Hey — thank you for the amazing video — we were truly impressed not only the videographer, but with your skill and passion.  We heard you love Starbucks.... ENJOY!   PS  Share one with your wife who shares you with us!”
--- Michele and Mark

Enclosed there were two Starbucks cards for $25 each!
Wow!!!
This is Awesome!

If there is one thing I enjoy is a good cup of coffee.  Actually I enjoy even not-so-good cups of coffee.  When I was at MIT as an undergrad, I definitely got into “coffee mode”, making  a fresh pot after dinner at my fraternity, pouring a fresh cup into my favorite mug, then heading back up to my room to battle through the long problem sets, with my swing lamp in position, and sharp-tipped pencils and pens and calculator at the ready.  

During medical school, coffee continued to be key... And into residency.
Mass General had a famous coffee pot in their emergency department.  It was indestructable stainless steel.  The coffee was really lousy, but it was always there — any time.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital had an Au Bon Pain in their main lobby.  Awesome coffee and maybe some bread or muffin to start the day.  

While on faculty at “Big Duke”, I would often meet with residents, fellows and medical students over coffee at the Café’ Oasis in main cafeteria.  Latte’s for some, straight coffee for me usually.

My physician assistants know the way to my heart is coffee.  If they want to get me psyched up for our big Friday clinic, one of them will bring me a big cup and surprise me on morning rounds.  

Many thanks to Michele and Mark for your kind gift.  We’ll let Stephen know how much you liked the video he produced for Lexi.

Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery

"The Spine is the Trickiest Part" -- Dr. Hey tries to get away from it all at dinner out.

Well, this week I actually had the week off to get my batteries recharged..... And my first vacation since last August, so boy was I ready!

Friday night I was psyched driving home, but still answering some patient calls after staying late in clinic with one of my college scoliosis patients and her mom.

Took my wife out to dinner Friday night to one of our favorite restaurants, Parizades – in Durham NC.  Now it is time to stop thinking about work, patient care and spines, and focus on family and regeneration!  I ordered up a North Carolina Flounder for dinner, and had a nice salad to start off.  When our main dishes arrived, the waiter offered to cut up and fillet the full flounder for me, which sounded like a good idea.  I then got a chance to watch him prepare the fish, carefully peeling off the skin.  He then started to delicately dissect out and remove the spine with accompanying other bones.

“The Spine is the Trickiest Part!” , he said.   “This is only the second time I’ve done this.”

My wife and I just smiled, and congratulated him on his excellent surgery.

The fish and the rest of the dinner, including dessert was excellent.

Yes indeed, the Spine is the Trickiest Part!

:)

Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com

30 Yo man w painful 76 degree Scheuermann's kyphosis fixed today

This gentleman is from out of state.
His surgery today went great.
Corrected down to kyphosis of 36 degrees, in normal range, using instrumentation and osteotomies.
No blood transfused.
Surgical time: 4 hr 45 min.
Complications none.

Good day so far!
Did huge scoli Monday and 2 revisions yesterday.
Saw huge scoli in clinic yesterday in woman w multiple sclerosis. Her curve has progressed dramatically just in the lady few months!