Children's patient stories

Bode's (14) surgery fitted her with one titanium and one cobalt chrome rod on either side of her spine held in place by 18 screws. Comparing the before and after X-Rays, they managed to make her spine perfectly straight which Bode says, "was incredible.” She’s now reassuring other young patients with Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis.

Mum Dawn explains how scoliosis surgery at The Portland Hospital changed her 15-year-old daughter's life.

When Julie was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of seven, her case was already more complex than most.

When Hattie first felt her back hurting in March 2019, her parents didn’t immediately think it was anything serious. However a scan in October showed a significant curvature of Hattie’s spine.

Diagnosing her with scoliosis, Hattie’s paediatrician referred her for further investigation and a consultation at The Portland Hospital, with consultant orthopaedic and spine surgeon Mr Jonathan Lucas.

"I just want to warn people they shouldn’t underestimate it," says 17-year-old Emilie. "Concussion can be really serious. I would urge people to get checked out as soon as possible, not just to 'wait and see'."

Jack’s mother Jaime noticed his shoulder blades were slightly uneven in March 2020, at the start of the UK COVID-19 lockdown. After being faced with a long wait for a referral, a chance recommendation led Jaime to turn to The Portland Hospital. Here Jaime shares their story and explain why this surgery was so important.

As 16-year-old Mimi climbed to the top of the giant Slitherine water slide in Dubai’s Atlantis aquaventure park, she had a momentary change of heart. Just three months before, the teenager from Walton on Thames, Surrey, had undergone major back surgery for scoliosis and started the difficult process of recovery. Seconds after her moment of doubt, she was plunging down the slide with her little sister, while their mum Tamara looked on.

Rhiannon was an active 14-year-old girl. When she occasionally complained to her parents about aches and pains in her back, there was no reason to think it was anything more sinister than sore muscles from one of her dance classes, or something she’d pulled while horse riding.

Ingrid and her mother Lotte were completely unaware of any problems with Ingrid's back, until Lotte asked Ingrid to sit up straight and Ingrid replied saying that she already was. Fast forward less than three months and Ingrid was undergoing complex, life-changing spinal surgery under the care of Mr Colin Nnadi at The Portland Hospital. Here Ingrid, now aged 15, and her mother share their story and explain why this surgery was so important.

At five days old, Ava Pearson was diagnosed as profoundly deaf. Her parents share the story of Ava’s successful cochlear implant surgery.

Omar had a challenging start to life. After being diagnosed with profound deafness, The Portland Hospital made it possible for him to hear again.