Lauren: Spinal Fracture
鈥淲e wanted the best orthopedic surgeons, but also the best in pediatric patient care. We knew we'd get both at Nemours.鈥
鈥撀燭im, Father
They call them 鈥渇lyers.鈥
The athletes you see during cheer routines doing high-flying twists and flips. Lauren, a sophomore at her Pennsylvania high school, is a flyer. In September 2019, during a stunt she鈥檚 done many times before, something went wrong. Terribly wrong. 鈥淭he stunt didn鈥檛 hit, and I ended up falling and landing on my neck,鈥 remembers the now 16-year-old. 鈥淚t was like a switch that just went off, I instantly couldn鈥檛 feel my legs. I knew right away it was bad, and that my life might never be the same.鈥
Excellent Surgeons and Care
Lauren was taken by ambulance to her local hospital where she was stabilized. Her parents were then given choices about where to transfer Lauren for her surgery and recovery. Despite it being a bit further away, they chose Nemours Children鈥檚 Hospital, Delaware. 鈥淢y wife and I talked it over,鈥 says her dad Tim. 鈥淚 just knew Lauren would be well taken care of at Nemours.鈥
Lauren was transferred to Nemours by helicopter. From the moment they arrived in the Emergency Department, Tim knew things were serious. 鈥淭he sheer number of people working on Lauren, it took my breath away. We knew it was serious, we knew this could be life-changing for all of us.鈥 The diagnosis was a burst fracture, defined as an injury in which the vertebra, the primary bone of the spine, breaks in multiple directions. Just how badly Lauren鈥檚 injury was wouldn鈥檛 be known until surgery the next day.
Lauren鈥檚 surgical team included three of the very best in their field: orthopedic surgeons Dr. William Mackenzie and Dr. Mihir Thacker, as well as neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Piatt. The surgery was long, but the news was good. Lauren鈥檚 spinal column, while compressed, was not penetrated.
鈥淚 want people to see my story and know that there is always hope. Don't give up. There are lots of really hard days, but in the end, the work you put in is so worth it.鈥澛
鈥 Lauren, patient
An Amazing Recovery
Lauren arrived at Nemours with no sensation in her lower body 鈥 no feeling, no strength. Just how far she could come back remained to be seen. But Lauren was stubborn and determined 鈥 and very impatient! She was committed to the physical and occupational therapy treatment, and just three months later, with assistance, Lauren was walking again.
鈥淭hey told me I jumped three weeks in recovery in just one week,鈥 says Lauren. And she kept going. 鈥淓verything we asked her to do, she just did,鈥 explains her physical therapist Stacey Travis-Treacy. 鈥淓ven when it was hard, Lauren got it done.鈥
鈥淓very milestone Lauren hit, we wondered, 鈥業s this it? Is this as far as she goes?鈥欌 says dad Tim. 鈥淏ut then she鈥檇 show off something new and would amaze us all over again.鈥 Nearly a year into her recovery Lauren is still making strides. 鈥淪he鈥檚 90% recovered and she made it look easy. This last 10% is the hardest part,鈥 according to Dr. Eileen Shieh, her rehab doctor. 鈥淟auren needs to build back the strength in her legs. But we know she can do it. Dr. Mackenzie calls her his Miracle Baby for a good reason!鈥
September 2020 marked one year since Lauren鈥檚 injury. Her determination, and spine, grows stronger each day as she inspires others, including her care team.聽