Guyana
Surgery 2017
Severe Scoliosis

Rahsaan’s story

Rahsaan traveled from Guyana to Austin, Texas, with a severe spinal curvature threatening his lung capacity and mobility.

My story

He came for a surgery. He stayed for a future.

Severe scoliosis had caused Rahsaan constant pain and limited almost every part of his daily life. After surgery, the pain eased and he stood taller. He went on to study mechanical engineering. Recently, Rahsaan became a father.

Through SpineHope’s generous donor community, his successful reconstructive surgery did more than straighten his spine. It restored his opportunity to pursue his dreams without boundaries. This is his story, told mostly in his own words.

Before

A curve that took over everything

Rahsaan grew up in the Republic of Guyana. In 2015 he looked in the mirror and noticed that his ribcage was starting to push out. Pain in the middle of his back followed, now and then at first, then more often and worse. His father thought it was posture and urged him to stand up straight.

On February 26, 2016, a doctor took X-rays and gave the family a diagnosis: scoliosis, already too far advanced for a brace to correct. The only treatment left was spine surgery.

By 2017, when Rahsaan was 16, the pain was constant. He hurt lying down, sitting, standing, and walking. Sitting through a lesson was hard, so he would ask his teacher to let him stand for a while. Other children asked why he walked and stood the way he did. His friends carried his bag when the pain was bad and answered those questions for him.

“I want to be normal like the other children and I hope the surgery can straighten my back and stop the pain that I experience.”
Rahsaan, age 16, 2017

X-ray of Rahsaan's spine before surgery, showing a severe curve — Before surgery

The surgery

How the surgery came together

A local orthopedic surgeon told the family that the operation Rahsaan needed was not offered in Guyana, because the hospitals there were not equipped for it. Having it done abroad would cost far more than the family, or most Guyanese families, could pay.

Rahsaan’s physician in Guyana, Dr. Hyder Khan, reached out to SpineHope on the family’s behalf. SpineHope accepted Rahsaan into its US Hub program, and The Caribbean Children Foundation (TCCF), whose mission is to make medical treatment accessible to poor and critically ill Caribbean children, agreed to sponsor the surgery and related expenses.

In the fall of 2017 Rahsaan traveled to Austin, Texas. Dr. Matthew Geck performed the surgery at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Around them stood a long list of partners who gave their services: the hospital and its staff, the anesthesiology and cardiology groups, a pediatrician, the spine implant companies, an immigration law firm, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“I must say thanks to SpineHope for indeed giving my family hope again.”
Desmond Abel, Rahsaan’s father, 2017

X-ray of Rahsaan's spine after surgery, straightened and held by rods and screws — After surgery

Recovery

Three inches taller, and no more back pain

In 2019 Rahsaan wrote to the people who had made his surgery possible.

“I consider myself fortunate to have been selected by SpineHope and sponsored by The Caribbean Children Foundation for surgery to correct my Idiopathic Scoliosis at Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin, Texas with surgeon Dr. Matthew Geck. Prior to my surgery, I experienced continuous back pain and my body was contorted which made me unhappy and very uncomfortable. Since the surgery, my new body posture has given me self-confidence and better self-esteem. I no longer have back pain.”

“I am studying for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations in June of 2019. After this exam, I will be joining a gym so I can further strengthen my body. After graduating, my goal is to attend the Government Technical Institute to pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering, followed by studies at the University of Guyana. All of this would not have been possible if I hadn’t received spine surgery. I am eternally grateful to all of you!”
Rahsaan, 2019

Three years after surgery.

Today

Where he is now

As a 16-year-old, Rahsaan liked cars and wanted to build and fix them. His father told him that meant studying mechanical engineering, and that became the plan. He went on to study mechanical engineering. Recently, Rahsaan became a father.

He also said, back in 2017, that he wanted to help other children who need spine surgery. Sharing his story here is part of that.