Alyssa Mask, 16, never imagined her spine would become such a central part of her story. A sprinter at Shadow Creek High School, Alyssa spent her days training for short-distance races and living the life of a typical teenager. She felt healthy. She felt strong. So, when her mom, Lisa, pointed out one day that she looked like she was leaning to the right, Alyssa brushed it off.
“I felt straight,” Alyssa recalled. “When I did my hair, it looked straight. I was running fine and had no back pain. I didn’t think anything was wrong.”
Lisa, however, couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. “I noticed her shoulders had shifted a little. I saw it as early as when she was 12, but it was subtle,” Lisa said. “As she got older and more active in track, I started paying closer attention. I just wanted to be preventive. I wanted her to have every opportunity to keep going.”
A pediatric checkup revealed what Alyssa couldn’t feel. She had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), a curvature of the spine that was already at 36 degrees. She was fitted with a brace and wore it consistently for six months. At one point, they were told she could stop wearing it because she was no longer growing. Then came another scan. The curve had worsened to 48 degrees.
Lisa knew they needed answers. After a frustrating experience with their first provider, Lisa brought Alyssa to pediatric orthopedic surgeon Lindsay Crawford, MD, affiliated with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, in July 2024 for a second opinion. It turned out to be the turning point they needed.
“Dr. Crawford was amazing,” Lisa said. “She scoped everything out from the very beginning. She ordered an MRI right away. She never missed a beat. She was patient, supportive and she really listened to Alyssa.”
Just a few weeks after their first visit, Alyssa was scheduled for spinal fusion surgery on Aug. 13, 2024, the first day of her sophomore year. “I was emotional,” Alyssa said. “I didn’t want surgery. I didn’t want to miss school. I just wanted to live my teenage life. I cried in the office when they told me. I was disappointed.”
On the day of surgery, the family arrived at the hospital at 5 a.m. The procedure would last eight hours. Alyssa admitted she was scared: “Anything could happen. I knew how important the spine is. I was afraid something might go wrong, and I wouldn’t be able to walk again.”
Lisa waited anxiously. “It was a long day. Around 3:30 p.m., they said they were closing her up. That was when I could finally breathe.”
The surgery was a success. Alyssa’s thoracic spine was reinforced with rods and grafts, carefully placed to straighten and support her back. Recovery began immediately. She stayed in the hospital for four days and started physical therapy soon after. The early days were hard, both mentally and physically.
“The hardest part was just getting up,” Alyssa said. “Walking, standing, even sitting up took effort. I was tired, in pain and emotional. I lost some friends during that time too. A lot of people didn’t show up for me like I thought they would. I had to learn to put myself first.”
Lisa stayed by her daughter’s side, bathing her, helping her move and offering emotional support. “It was a lot. I was tired, too, but everything I had went into helping her get better,” said Lisa.
Within six weeks, Alyssa was walking on her own again. She continued outpatient physical therapy through December. Her physical therapist affiliated with Memorial Hermann, Michaela Spencer, became a key part of her progress. “She was really nice,” Alyssa said. “Any time I had pain or strain, she knew how to push me just enough without pushing too far.”
Although Alyssa was cleared to return to track, she chose to take her time. “It’s a mental block,” her mother said. “She’s physically ready, but she’s still building confidence. I keep telling her she has so much potential, and colleges are watching.”
Alyssa has since run for short bursts during physical therapy sessions, including a 12-minute jog that marked a huge milestone in her recovery. “I was scared to do it, but I did it,” she said.
Now in her junior year, Alyssa is focused on academics and her future. She’s enrolled in a health sciences program and taking her first classes to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Her experience with scoliosis and the care she received at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital helped clarify her path.
“I always wanted to help people,” Alyssa said. “This surgery just confirmed it. I want to work in the medical field. I know what it’s like to be in pain and to be scared. I want to be the person who helps someone else feel safe.”
Lisa and Alyssa credit Dr. Crawford and the entire Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital team for their compassion and professionalism throughout every stage of the process. “From the nurses to the clinic staff to physical therapy, everyone was amazing,” Lisa said. “They helped us feel seen and supported. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my child.”
Alyssa added, “They made a tough experience something I could get through.”