24 yo Vanessa with severe scoliosis and one lung looking well and feeling well at 5 months postop

We saw Vanessa and her husband back in clinic today, and she was absolutely radiant!  We've shared her story on a previous blog with her permission, and again today with he permission.    She was sent to me by Dr. Chris Brown, a wonderful Duke spine surgeon who I have known for many years.  Vanessa was quite a challenge:  a severe scoliosis, and missing one lung from birth, which is not a good combination for long-term cardio-pulmonary health, and even for perioperative risk.   She had done very well, however, and I am thankful that she now able to enjoy better quality of life with her 3 yo and husband, better posture and appearance, and also better long-term outlook for her cardio-pulmonary health!  Vanessa and her husband share their updated story on YouTube video and transcribed text below.
Dr. Lloyd Hey -- Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and SpineSurgery

“I am Vanessa. I am originally from Fayetteville. I have been seen by Dr. Hey. My surgery was this past June of 2015. I suffered from scoliosis since I was about 12 years old and it was ongoing pain, literally. I am really grateful now because Dr. Hey has fixed my spine. I feel prettier now. I used to grow my hair really long to hide my hump and now I cut it short, so I’m happy about that. I have a 3 year old that I can keep up with now. I took him trick or treating recently and I was excited to look at the pictures because I didn’t have any hump and I was able to last all night long. It was great! So I am very thankful for Dr. Hey and his staff and everybody at Duke Raleigh who took care of me. I’m very grateful. I feel beautiful. Much more beautiful  than I did before. Life is great and is going great now.” -Vanessa

“I would just like to thank Dr. Hey and everybody at the Hey Clinic and Duke Raleigh medical center. Just for getting my wife to where she wanted to be, where she is pain free. She is taller now. Pain free everyday too. A lot happier and her morale is a 100 times better.” –Vanessa’s husband

Vanessa's new back posture, incision looks good

Vanessa's very good side posture postop