Ukurasa huu bado haupatikani kwa Kiswahili. Unaonyeshwa kwa Kiingereza.
Hannah’s story: revision scoliosis surgery at 30
In short. Hannah, a dancer and special needs athlete, had lived with complications from an earlier scoliosis operation for more than half her life and had been wheelchair-bound for more than ten years. At 30 she had revision scoliosis surgery with Dr. Diebo. Her family filmed the journey from the first visit to recovery, and consented to share it.
Part 1 · Facing the surgery · 4 min 52 s. Shared with Hannah’s consent.
Her story
Hannah is a dancer and a special needs athlete. She lived with complications from an earlier scoliosis operation for more than half her life. By the time she came to Dr. Diebo, she had been wheelchair-bound for more than ten years.
Her family filmed the journey in a three-part series, from the first visit to recovery. At her visit, Dr. Diebo examined Hannah at her level, with her mother and grandmother in the room, and explained the surgery to her using her Barbie doll.
“His empathy, not sympathy, is what stood out. He got right down to Hannah’s level and spoke to her, explaining the surgery using her Barbie.”Hannah’s mother
At 30, Hannah had revision scoliosis surgery.
“Those are the moments when I personally feel that it is a gift.”Dr. Diebo
Part 2 · The operation
Part 2 · Preparation and the operation · 3 min 15 s. Shared with Hannah’s consent.
Part 3, A new chapter, is on the University Orthopedics blog, which also has Part 1 and Part 2. Brown University Health tells it as Hanah’s story.
After surgery
Back on the field, and on the dance floor.
Special Olympics Massachusetts flag football and tee-ball, a dance with friends, a hug at Fenway Park.
10 seconds. This video has music and no narration.
Shared with Hannah’s consent.
“I promised Hannah we would play basketball.”
Nowhere fancy. They played where it all started, in Dr. Diebo’s office.
38 seconds. This video has no narration.
Shared with Hannah’s consent.
What Hannah’s story illustrates
- An earlier scoliosis operation is not always the end of the story. When problems build up years later, revision surgery can be discussed.
- Care for a patient with special needs works best when the patient and family are part of every decision, and when the plan is explained at the patient’s level.
- Every case is different. One patient’s story is not a prediction of anyone else’s result; that depends on a full evaluation.