My journey began 55 years ago when, at age 15, I started experiencing back pain that signaled something was wrong. Over time, an abnormal curvature of my spine became evident, and by 18, I was diagnosed with 20-degree scoliosis. As the years passed, the pain worsened. I endured 40 years of constant pain, gradually losing my ability to walk comfortably or carry even light loads. My quality of life deteriorated to the point where I was sitting for more than 15 minutes would bring me to tears. I spent hours each day lying down just to cope with the pain.

At my lowest point, still living in Brazil and facing a scoliosis that had progressed to a 70-degree curve, I was fortunate to find a doctor in California who specialized in minimally invasive scoliosis correction—Dr. Neel Anand. In July 2011, with a lateral curve and spinal rotation that left my ribcage visibly distorted, I underwent surgery under his care.

The day after the surgery, I took my first steps, and the results were immediate. The curvature and rotation of my spine were gone, and I had “grown” 5.5 cm. After just 10 days, I was able to return home, and within two months, I was doing exercises in the pool. My life completely changed, allowing me to do things I never thought possible. That year, Dr. Anand became my hero, giving me a life free from the tears and constant pain.

Thirteen years later, now at age 70, I began to experience pain at the base of my spine. After a few months, when I could no longer walk even a short distance without a wheelchair, I returned to my hero. An MRI revealed a collapse at the base of my spine. Once again, Dr. Anand performed surgery and corrected the problem. A few days later, I was back home, filled with gratitude to the man who had, yet again, restored my life to one of quality and freedom from pain.