Marti Cuevas

I was a 7 mile-per-day runner and weightlifter who never had an ache or pain in her life. In 2014 I felt pain while running and took a break working out on machines in the gym for a couple of weeks. Feeling better, I went for a five mile run in late 2014 - that was the last time I ran. I had intense pain and could barely walk, but suffering from acute "doctor-phobia", I did not go to the doctor. Eventually, my condition deteriorated and I could barely walk without intense pain. I lapsed into a depression at the same time, suffering through the most trying business debacle of my career. It was my family who basically staged an intervention and DEMANDED I make an appointment at HSS. I was so frightened of the surgery that on the day of I was exploring excuses for not showing up. Thank God I persevered! On June 18th, 2018, I ceased to feel pain. The next day I was home, and within a week walking the mile loop around my house. In the next two weeks, I started walking hills while pushing my grandson in his stroller and within a couple of months, was able to walk any distance. I am a musician who could barely hold up my flute because of deterioration of my cervical spine due to becoming sedentary. Now I can practice for hours and am playing baritone sax, a monster which weighs a ton. Back in the gym lifting and in general working out like the old days. I have zero pain and cannot recall which side underwent surgery. Nothing short of a miracle.