Cassie Regains Active Lifestyle Following Spine Surgery at Memorial

After her back was injured in a car accident, Cassie was told she would need spine surgery someday.

That day arrived after she had been playing soccer on the beach. She woke up in so much pain, it was difficult to walk. Her mother took Cassie to Memorial, where she was evaluated by neurosurgeon Ivan Stoev, MD.

Dr. Stoev found one of her three injured discs was severely herniated and compressing a nerve. He recommended immediate surgery.

“I was like, ‘what the heck?’ I’m 22 years old and I’m having back surgery,” Cassie said.

Dr. Stoev performed the minimally invasive microdiscectomy through an incision of less than an inch. Cassie was amazed when she woke up and was pain-free.

“Dr. Stoev, to me, is like a lifesaver,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to be walking right now if it wasn’t for him.”

Now, Cassie is back to enjoying fishing and diving, and the other activities she loves.