Born with scoliosis, a condition that causes an abnormal curvature of the spine, Alysa needed surgery to correct her rapidly worsening condition. Her surgery represented a significant milestone for Alysa, and her recovery also marked the beginning of a new chapter for the hospital’s orthopedic care program.
Janay McKie, M.D., chief of staff for orthopedics at Shriners Children’s Texas, is excited about the future of spine care at the hospital.
“Completing the first spine surgery at Shriners Children’s Texas demonstrates our staff’s ability to create and reimagine pediatric orthopedic care in a new location: Galveston, Texas,” Dr. McKie said. “Additionally, it means that the best is yet to come for our team, and more importantly, our patients and their families.”
Scoliosis can cause significant physical challenges, including pain, limited mobility, and in severe cases, issues with lung and heart function. Posterior spinal fusion, the surgery Alysa received, involves fusing specific vertebrae together to prevent further curvature. The ultimate goal is to improve the patient’s spinal alignment, alleviate pain, and prevent the condition from worsening, allowing them to lead a more active and pain-free life.
Dr. Phillips walked in the room, looked at Alysa, and he spoke directly to her. When he got done telling her everything she needed to know about the surgery, he looked at us and asked us if we had any questions. And, we didn’t, because he already answered everything we could have asked.
Her surgeon, William Philips, M.D., with a long career in performing spinal surgeries, believes the surgery will improve her overall quality of life.
“This surgery will keep her spine from gradually getting more curved as she gets older,” Dr. Phillips said. “This reduces the risk of her developing breathing problems, severe back pain and severe deformity.”
The significance of adding spinal surgeries to Shriners Children’s Texas’ orthopedic offerings was important to our mission of providing the most amazing care in one place.
For Alysa, having surgery has allowed her to continue living the life of a healthy and active 12-year-old girl. She is obsessed with playing Tetris, likes to read fantasy novels, and loves to crochet. She even crocheted a bowtie in honor of Dr. Phillips, who is always wearing his trademark bowties, as a gift for being her now-favorite doctor.
According to her mom, Jeannie, “Dr. Phillips walked in the room, looked at Alysa, and he spoke directly to her. He asked, ‘What questions do you have? What do you need? What can we do to help you understand?’ When he got done telling her everything she needed to know about the surgery, he looked at us and asked us if we had any questions. And, we didn’t, because he already answered everything we could have asked.”
Looking to the future, Shriners Children’s Texas holds a world of possibility for patients who require spinal surgical procedures. Alysa's journey is only the beginning, paving the way for many more to benefit from the hospital’s newly expanded capabilities in pediatric spinal care.
Alysa shows off her new Build-A-Bear friend.
Alysa right after her surgery at Shriners Children's Texas.
Alysa with the behavioral health team at Shriners Children's Texas.
Alysa shows off her crochet skills to Alexis, an anesthesiologist at the hospital.
