When 17-year-old (now 18) student, Casey, from Lichfield first noticed her shoulder blade sticking out with discomfort, she knew something wasn’t right, and alerted her parents.
Her sister, Mikaela, 16 (now 17), also a student, experienced similar issues. A visit to the doctor and x-ray results confirmed that both sisters had scoliosis – a three-dimensional curvature of the spine. They were referred for treatment and both required spinal surgery.
“The hardest thing before surgery” Casey remembers, “was sitting up for a long period during exams — it was a struggle.” Her sister, Mikaela added, “my shoulder blade just wouldn’t sit comfortably on a chair.”
The family opted for private healthcare, and their consultant introduced them to The Woodlands Suite – Private Care at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. What felt overwhelming at first soon became manageable.
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital offers dual consultant operating for complex spinal deformity, where two Consultant Surgeons work together to deliver the safest and best possible outcome for patients. This is performed in combination with skilled specialised Anaesthetic Consultants. All of this made it possible for Casey and Mikaela to have their surgeries on the same day.
“It was so fast once we went private with The Woodlands Suite,” the girls’ mum, Kerry, explained. “The team was able to accommodate both girls together – from their pre-op appointments to their surgery date. It was unusual to have siblings undergo spinal surgery on the same day — but it made such a difference to us.”
From the start, the team at The Woodlands Suite went out of their way to make the experience less daunting. “They treated us royally and even nicknamed us ‘The Scoli Sisters’ during our hospital stay,” Casey remembers with a smile.
Left right, sisters Mikaela and Casey walk through the ROH
Consultant Surgeons, Mr Jones and Mr McKay performed the surgeries, and Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Da Silva provided peri-operative medical care and optimised post-operative pain control. The Woodlands Suite prides itself on attention to detail, not just in the lead up to surgery, but post-surgery. “I asked if the consultants ever had a day off!” Kerry recalled “The level of care and attention made us feel completely reassured.”
The girls’ consultant anaesthetist, Dr Da Silva, left a lasting impression. “He was brilliant,” Kerry shared. “He explained everything so clearly, step by step, and kept coming back to check on the girls. You could see how much he cared, not just about the procedure, but about making sure they felt safe and understood.”
Recovery was quicker than the family expected. Older sister, Casey, was back at sixth form college in just two weeks, even sitting A-level exams just eight weeks after surgery. Both sisters noticed positive changes post-surgery too. “I have fewer aches, and I’m much taller now. I grew three inches after surgery!” said Casey. “Our clothes fit so much better now,” added Mikaela.
On their scars, Casey admitted, “I thought I would feel insecure about the scar, but I actually embrace it.” Their mum added, “They have lovely, neat scars now — and they wear them with pride.” With the physical changes came a boost in confidence. “My confidence, especially in how my clothes fit, has grown massively. Also, at the gym - I can do a lot more now without feeling uncomfortable.” Looking to the future Casey is “excited to attend university and just live life more normally” and Mikaela is “looking forward to getting an apprenticeship.”
Their mum summed up the family’s experience at The Woodlands Suite with gratitude saying, “Our consultant surgeons were amazing, the consultant anaesthetist was brilliant, and all members of staff, from the porters to the ward team went above and beyond. The aftercare was outstanding. We honestly couldn’t have asked for more than what we received at The Woodlands Suite at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.”
Reflecting on the girls’ case, consultant surgeon, Mr Jones said, “It was a unique and rewarding experience to perform complex spinal surgery for scoliosis on two sisters on the same day – not my average shift! Our aim was not only to correct the curvature of the spine but also to restore confidence and quality of life — seeing Casey and Mikaela recover side by side was truly special.”
For Casey, Mikaela and their family, the experience at The Woodlands Suite has been a journey marked by care, compassion, and confidence. From start to finish, the hospital team gave them not just straighter spines, but the confidence to stand taller, in every sense of the word.