Local Teenager Defies Odds, Dances Weeks After Major Back Surgery
You'd never know it from the outside, but on the inside...
"It was so painful."
14 year old Kathryn Williams' scoliosis was so severe at times she struggled to walk.
"After like ten minutes I would have to bend over to stretch it out or I'd have to go sit in the car," Kathryn said.
The talented dancer managed to ignore it for the most part until two years ago.
"We went to my physical therapist and they were like, 'it's really bad.'"
"It's called idiopathic scoliosis. Once it starts to take a turn, it keeps going with those growth spurts," said Kathryn's Mother Michelle Williams.
Her spine curved to an alarming 100 degrees despite exhaustive efforts to stop it.
"It's crazy machinery that they put you in. It was really painful. I would cry all the time," said Kathryn.
Surgery was her only other option.
"I was definitely scared," Kathryn said.
"You run the gamut of worst case scenarios," Kathryn's mother added.
During the more than seven hour long procedure, doctors placed two cobalt chrome rods and more than a dozen titanium screws into Kathryn's back. It reduced her spine's curvature to 30 degrees.
"We felt every prayer," her mom said.
"I remember feeling my ribs. Before it was offset. They were even, so I was like 'oh my gosh this is so weird," said Kathryn.
Seven and a half weeks later, Kathryn is already back to dancing just when Panama City Dance Academy needed her most. A teammate sprained her ankle, putting Kathryn back in for this weekend's first competition of the season.
"I'm just going to focus on not forgetting my dance and giving it my all."
Kathryn said she hopes her remarkable recovery can inspire others.
"I might be able to help someone else. There's no point in being negative because that's not accomplishing anything."
If you'd like to wish Kathryn good luck this weekend, feel free to comment on this story with an encouraging note.
Medical News
-
Health workers strike at UC Calif. medical centers
Thousands of healthcare workers walked off the job at the University of California's five medical centers on Tuesday, delaying surgeries, diagnostic procedures, treatments and emergency care throughout the state. -
Vermont passes law allowing doctor-assisted suicide
Vermont on Monday became the fourth U.S. state to end legal penalties for doctors who prescribe medication to terminally ill patients seeking to end their own lives. -
'Uninsurables' at risk as states fear losing health aid
Thousands of people with serious medical problems are in danger of losing coverage under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul because of cost overruns, state officials say. -
Your kitchen isn't as clean as you think!
If you're a smoothie lover, take note. Eight spots in your kitchen -- including your blender -- may be alive with foodborne pathogens potent enough to sicken you and your family, a new study finds.
-
'Rapid strides': Advances offer hope for amputees
It will be weeks, at least, before Celeste Corcoran is anywhere near ready to think about artificial limbs. The 47-year-old Lowell, Mass.
-
People think they're eating less than they are, survey finds
People may realize that fast food isn’t health food, but they don’t realize just how fattening it really is, researchers report. They surveyed people eating at 10 burger, chicken, sandwich and doughnut chains and found they greatly underestimated just how much they were chowing down.
-
Report questioning salt guidelines riles heart experts
An unusual medical brawl erupted on Tuesday when the influential Institute of Medicine issued a report questioning the basis of years of advice for Americans to cut their salt intake in half. -
Chris Christie's weight-loss procedure doesn't always work
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie revealed that he's had gastric-band weight-loss surgery, which experts say has the least amount of short-term risk but also yields the least amount of weight loss.
-
Caffeinated gum raises health buzz
A new line of caffeinated chewing gum is causing jitters among health advocates and prompting federal officials to take a new look at the proliferation of jolt-infused foods, including those marketed to children and teens.
-
Dr. Oz's tips for losing those last 10 pounds
Stress, the slowing of metabolism of middle age, and hormone changes after having a baby are three main reasons why many people see the numbers on the scale going up. Dr. Mehmet Oz shares tips on how to shed those final 10 pounds.
-
Anger may raise heart attack risk, study finds
Bottling up emotions is thought to harm both mind and body, but a new study suggests that the opposite extreme may be no better. -
Just one daily soda can raise diabetes risk
Drinking just one 12-ounce soda a day may increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, a new study from Europe suggests. -
Gut bugs linked to heart attacks, strokes
Thousands of heart attack victims every year have none of the notorious risk factors before their crisis - not high cholesterol, not unhealthy triglycerides. -
12 school football players die each year, study finds
Each year in the U.S. an average of a dozen high school and college football players die during practices and games, according to a new study that finds heart conditions, heat and other non-traumatic causes of death are twice as common as injury-related ones. -
Chelation little help for heart disease: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Removing metals from the body through a controversial treatment has little effect on the long-term health of people who've previously suffered a heart attack, according to the results of a government-funded trial released Tuesday.
-
Brisk walk may be as good as a run, study finds
Walking really is just as good for you as running – but only if you compare it in terms of calories burned and not merely on time spent, researchers reported on Thursday. -
Smart jocks: Fit kids do better at math, reading
Forget the old high school clichés about athletes not doing as well academically as less sporty kids -- a new study shows that children who exercise more do better in math, reading tests.
-
Seeing green might make your workout better
The positive effects of green exercise may have more to do with the color green than with being surrounded by nature, according to a new study. -
No time to exercise? Try 10-minute workouts
The procrastinators, the super-busy, and the easily bored in pursuit of a manageable fitness routine may find what they seek in the 10-minute workout.
-
Stressed? Exercise may help ward off anxiety
Exercise not only improves mood, it may help people maintain reduced anxiety in the face of stressful or emotional events, a new study says.
