Sophia’s Story: Scoliosis Couldn’t Stop Her From Dancing
Sophia’s journey with scoliosis began in third grade, at a routine annual physical. When her doctor asked her to bend down and touch her toes, they noticed something — a slight rotation in her spine. That simple observation would change the course of her childhood.
A Growing Curve
Sophia was diagnosed with scoliosis and began visiting the Rady Children’s Orthopedics & Scoliosis Center every six months to monitor her spine. By middle school, she was wearing a back brace for 20 hours a day. By her freshman year of high school, her curve had worsened to 53 degrees.
“I thought all hope was lost,” Sophia recalled. Surgery was the only path forward.
Spinal Fusion at 15
At age 15, Sophia underwent spinal fusion surgery with Dr. Peter Newton and his team, who placed 28 screws and two titanium rods in her back to correct the curve. Recovery took six months, and like Veronica before her, Sophia had to relearn how to walk — and how to dance.
“I was kind of like a newborn,” she said. “But I was able to get through it all.”
Back on the Dance Floor
Dance had always been Sophia’s creative outlet — her way of feeling like a normal kid, not just a scoliosis patient. The thought of losing that was one of her greatest fears going into surgery.
“Despite my spinal fusion and all the titanium and rods in my back, I’m still able to dance like a maniac,” she said. “After surgery, I’m able to dance even better.”
At Rady Children’s, Sophia said she never felt like a patient. She felt like family.
Standing Taller
“Dr. Newton is literally part of my family now,” Sophia said. “I had so much hope in him because of the hope that he had in me. Because of him, I stand taller — literally — and that’s all that matters.”