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By Daniella Gray
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A woman from Denver, Colorado, who was diagnosed with scoliosis at just 12 years old had no idea what she would have to face a few years later.
Lila Grace, now 24, told Newsweek that a routine checkup led to a diagnosis of scoliosis and kyphosis, two spinal conditions that can cause the spine to curve abnormally.
At the time, her spinal curve measured around 30 degrees—well above the 10-degree threshold typically used to diagnose scoliosis—but doctors soon realized it was progressing at an alarming rate.
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"We kept an eye on it for a bit, but eventually the curve got up to about 70 degrees," Grace explained.
Because of her age and the shape of the curve, bracing was not an option. As the condition worsened, doctors delivered a frightening warning.
"The doctor said if I hadn't gotten it then, I would be crippled by the time I was an adult with how fast the curve was growing," Grace said.
Years later, Grace shared a clip on TikTok (@learningbeinglila) showing footage from when she was 15 and preparing for spinal fusion surgery, an operation designed to stabilize and straighten the spine that she said doctors described as "the number one most painful surgery."
Spinal fusion surgery is a procedure used to correct severe spinal curves by permanently joining vertebrae together. Surgeons typically use metal rods, screws and bone grafts to straighten and stabilize the spine as it heals.
Looking back, Grace remembers feeling a complex mix of emotions.
"I was honestly very excited for the surgery," she said. "I had been dealing with worsening chronic pain since the diagnosis and was desperate for relief."
Despite her optimism, she carried a fear she rarely voiced.
"My biggest fear... was paralysis," Grace explained. "It's such a small percentage of people who experience it, but I was still incredibly fearful of the possibility of not being fully abled upon waking up."
For weeks, she kept much of that anxiety to herself to avoid adding to her family's worries. It wasn't until she was wheeled away from her loved ones and toward the operating room that her composure broke.
"I started to cry, and the doctor held my hand the entire time until I was put under anesthesia," she said. "I'll never forget that. It meant the world to me, and still does."
Recovery was far from easy. Grace spent two months largely bedridden and had to relearn how to walk.
Her mother took time off to help her shower, manage medication and take short walks while she regained her strength.
While the physical challenges were significant, she said the hardest part was losing her independence.
"To have to rely on those around me for medication, getting out of bed, changing, showering was extremely rough for me mentally," Grace said.
Today, however, she has no regrets, and said the surgery was "the best decision" she made.
"I still have chronic pain, but it was nowhere near as bad as it was before, and there is a certain comfort in knowing it won't get significantly worse over time," Grace said.
The decision to post the old footage was deeply personal. The grandmother seen hugging her in the video passed away last month, and revisiting the clips brought back memories.
But Grace also hoped her story could help others, particularly the middle school students she now teaches, some of whom are facing similar diagnoses.
Her advice for anyone frightened by the prospect of spinal fusion surgery is simple: "Mindset is everything," she said.
"Encourage yourself however you can, and don't be afraid to lean on those around you—both literally and metaphorically!"
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