The move requires extreme flexibility of the spine. It’s a spectacle when an athlete can pull it off, and it’s even more amazing when a 13-year-old has it mastered after having spine surgery. Shriners Children’s Northern California patient Gabby is that athlete. She is a competitive cheerleader who pushes herself to the limits on the mat and is always looking forward to her next competition. This spring Gabby and her cheer team will travel to Florida to compete at Summit-Varsity All-Stars, a national meet that teams must qualify for to attend.
“It’s the Super Bowl of cheer,” said Gabby.
Less than a year ago, Gabby feared having to give up cheerleading altogether. She had a severe case of scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine that was worsening as she grew.
Her primary pediatricians monitored her minor scoliosis from a young age, but it wasn’t until recently that her pain intensified. Gabby’s doctor warned that any further worsening of the curve in Gabby’s lower spine could affect her ability to walk. The doctor sat down with her and her mother, Kate, to deliver an urgent message.
“The doctor told me that her curve had progressed so quickly and was so bad that delaying surgery any longer might put her in a wheelchair or, even worse, threaten her life,” said Kate. “After that conversation, I cried and cried.”
Their primary physician gave them one recommendation, and that was to have the surgery performed at Shriners Children’s Northern California by medical director of the pediatric spine program, Rolando Roberto, M.D., a leader in the field of orthopedic spine surgery.
“He told me that if it was his daughter, he would send her to Dr. Roberto and explained to me how he was a pioneer in the type of surgery Gabby needed,” said Kate.
I’m really glad I had the surgery and it’s great being back in the gym with my friends.
Dr. Roberto performed a revolutionary scoliosis surgery called vertebral body tethering (VBT) that corrects a developing spine’s sideways curve while preserving the spine’s mobility and range of motion. VBT is a non-invasive alternative to traditional scoliosis surgery, or spinal fusion, that straightens a curve by permanently joining the bones in the spine.
Kate did extensive research about VBT before agreeing to surgery. During her research, Kate stumbled across a story about another Shriners Children’s patient, Audrey, who was a competitive cheerleader and underwent VBT with Dr. Roberto. She is back on the mat and cheering at a higher level than ever before.
“It was nice to know that someone just like me had gone through this surgery and was back to cheerleading without any pain,” said Gabby. “After reading it, my anxiety kind of went away and I knew that I was going to be okay.”
Gabby first met with Dr. Roberto and her Shriners Children’s team nine short months ago. Dr. Roberto noticed that her growth plates were growing and there was a tight window of time before they closed, so he shifted the entire surgery schedule to put her at the top of the list. Gabby was an excellent candidate for VBT and had her surgery a few weeks later.
“It was a long and complicated surgery because her spine was almost touching her diaphragm,” said Kate. “They needed to enter through her side but also through her abdomen. But it went well and Gabby was up and moving as soon as they let her.”
Despite a very long operation and because of the advanced nature of the VBT technique, Gabby was released to return home just 48 hours after surgery. Gabby was cleared for all activity just five weeks post-surgery.
“I threw my first back handspring the day after I was cleared,” said Gabby. “I entered the gym with a new sense of confidence I didn’t even know I had.”
Just seven short months post-op, Gabby is competing with her team and is getting ready for Summit-Varsity All-Stars in Florida. She is grateful to be back in the gym pulling all of her favorite body positions like scales, needles and spikes.
“My back doesn’t hurt anymore,” said Gabby. “My knees and hips are in alignment so those don’t hurt anymore either, and I can do all the same things as before, plus more. I’m really glad I had the surgery, and it’s great being back in the gym with my friends.”
Gabby holding one of the most challenging stunts in cheerleading after VBT surgery – a needle
Gabby and her mother at the hospital
Gabby with a picture of her pre-surgery spinal curve
Gabby at the hospital in her cheer jacket
