Patient stories

Scoliosis surgery

Monica’s story of healing and hope

Monica was an energetic, athletic child who loved swimming, volleyball, decorating, and painting. “Her passion was contagious,” said her father, Roberto. “We never saw any hints of physical problems. She was perfectly healthy.”

When Monica turned six, her parents noticed her body curving to the left when she walked. Doctors in Managua, Nicaragua, diagnosed her with scoliosis. “We had never heard of scoliosis, so the news was devastating,” Roberto remembered. “The more we learned the more frightened we became.”

As her condition progressed, Monica began to experience pain, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. “I felt sad because I had so much fun doing those things but then I couldn’t,” Monica said. “Sometimes I had to play by myself because the teachers didn’t want my classmates to hurt me accidentally.”

Through a local specialist, the family connected with SpineHope, a nonprofit that brings advanced scoliosis care to underserved children worldwide. Monica’s case was approved through SpineHope’s U.S. Hub Program, and she traveled to Austin, Texas for spinal fusion surgery.

Before surgery, she spent a month in halo-gravity traction, a device that gently stretches the spine to reduce curvature and prepare for surgery. Doctors added up to 35 pounds of traction, reducing her curve from 127 degrees to 73 degrees.

“Yes, I was afraid before the surgery, but I was mainly worried that I wouldn’t actually be able to have the operation,” Monica said. “I just knew this would help me.”

Her eight-hour surgery successfully straightened her spine with metal rods and screws. “The medical assistants helped her stand up the day after surgery and she took her first steps,” Roberto said. “It was incredible. Amazing.”

Just seven days later, Monica left the hospital — no longer in pain and walking on her own. “It didn’t hurt anymore and I could do the things I liked to do again,” she said. Today, she’s back to swimming, volleyball, skating, and painting, and her smile has returned. “I’m so grateful to everyone on my care team for everything they’ve done for me,” Monica said. “They gave me my life back.”

About SpineHope and Medtronic

SpineHope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing advanced spine treatment to children around the world in underserved communities with the goal to reduce pain and improve quality of life for children with spinal conditions. Learn more about SpineHope.

For years, Medtronic has stood beside SpineHope as a partner in the mission to bring life-changing spinal surgeries to children in underserved communities around the world.

As a medical device market leader in spine surgery, Medtronic provides sponsorship and donations of specialized surgical equipment and spinal implants to support these scoliosis surgeries.