It can change your outlook on life, your future career ambitions and your life trajectory. For Megan, a patient from Midlothian, Virginia, this was true. Her scoliosis surgery not only corrected her spinal curves but positively changed the trajectory of her future.
Megan is a 19-year-old patient born with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. She lived with the condition undiagnosed until she was 7 years old. She first visited Shriners Children’s Philadelphia for a second opinion when she was 10, where her curves were monitored under the guidance of Josh Pahys, M.D. Three years later, it was determined that bracing wasn’t working and her curves had progressed enough to require spinal fusion surgery. She received this surgery when she was 13, and, now 19, is proof that spinal surgery does not have to slow you down.
She is a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo and does not have limited range of motion despite her spinal fusion surgery. She also stays active playing volleyball, wakeboarding, skiing and snowboarding. Without her spine surgery, her scoliosis would have inhibited her from doing the activities she loves.
Megan said that her surgeon, Dr. Pahys, is a true inspiration for her. She said, “He is one of the most amazing humans that I have ever met. He is my hero. He is the reason I am choosing to pursue a career in orthopedic spine surgery, but specifically pediatrics. Dr. Pahys completely changed my life for the better after my fusion surgery, and I want to help children the same way he helped me.”
Megan is currently a student at Virginia Tech studying clinical neuroscience on the pre-med track. She is on her way to following in the footsteps of Dr. Pahys. She expressed that he made her feel comfortable before her surgery, alleviating fear and anxiety. She aspires to do that for her own patients one day.
Dr. Pahys said, “It has been a true pleasure to help take care of Megan for all these years. She is a shining example of a strong and determined patient who was not willing to let scoliosis run her life, but rather she embraced her curve with courage and a smile. My heart was full when she talked about her career path and it was so wonderful to have her back at Shriners to shadow our team and learn more about a career in medicine. I know she will pay it forward with her enthusiasm to the next generation and I can’t wait to see all that I know she will accomplish.”
Dr. Pahys completely changed my life for the better after my fusion surgery, and I want to help children the same way he helped me.
Megan also participated in our Summer Research Immersion Program, where high school and college students can partake in the combination of professional medical lectures, hands-on labs, research projects and shadowing of medical professionals. This was especially enriching for Megan, as it supported her pre-med education with hands-on demonstrations and real-world scenarios from professionals in the field. The highlight of the program for Megan was shadowing Dr. Pahys in the operating room and watching him perform a spinal fusion surgery.
She said, “It was so cool getting to watch him perform the same surgery that I had previously received and watch something that I hope to practice in the future. He also explained multiple surgical steps to me, which was a great learning experience.”
Megan’s experiences at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia from her initial appointment to now have inspired her to become more involved in supporting the mission of the organization. She is now a Patient Ambassador and is eager to share her story and experiences with a wider audience.
She said, “The Shriners hospital staff has been beyond amazing since every visit that I have had. Every single person, from security to the registration staff, nurses and more, all have such an empathetic personality that feels so welcoming at every visit. They have made me feel seen and comforted, despite my scoliosis.” To be seen is to be understood, and at Shriners Children’s that is one of our top priorities. We look forward to seeing Megan accomplish all her goals and possibly return to Shriners Children’s as an employee one day.
