After years of worsening neck pain, Bailey Haven turned to the specialized spinal surgery team at Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital, where timely treatment of a tumor pressing on her spinal cord helped her return to an active life.
For nearly three years, Bailey Haven of Spring, Texas, chalked up her neck pain to getting older. Like many busy parents, the 35-year-old mother spent her days juggling work, family and children's activities. She worked in dental insurance billing, spending long hours at a desk and rarely slowing down.
She was also her children’s “mom taxi” and biggest cheerleader. She drove her son, Colton, to flag football practices and games. When she wasn’t doing that, she was taking her daughter, Charlie, to drill team practices. "I thought having pain was just part of turning 30," Bailey said. "At first, it was more annoying than painful.”
Over time, things went from bad to worse and Bailey’s pain affected every area of her life.
When Neck Pain Became Impossible to Ignore
The discomfort gradually became severe enough that over-the-counter pain medications became part of Bailey's daily routine. Then the symptoms became impossible to explain away. She struggled to sit comfortably. Standing hurt. Sleeping became nearly impossible because the pain repeatedly woke her during the night.
Her partner, John, noticed something wasn't right. "He told me this wasn't normal and something was wrong. He insisted I get help.”
Looking for relief, Bailey visited a chiropractor twice a week for about a month. Instead of improving, her symptoms became worse. Soon afterward, new and frightening symptoms appeared. "I could not feel my left hand or my left foot. I had no strength on the left side of my body,” she said. “I was so afraid that something might be happening in my body that was life-threatening."
Her concerns prompted her to seek further medical care. She saw an orthopedic physician who wanted to take a closer look. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, which uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of structures inside the body, revealed the cause of Bailey’s excruciating pain.
A Spinal Tumor Diagnosis that Changed Everything
The orthopedist told Bailey she had a mass (a tumor) in her spinal column. "It was absolutely horrifying because I had known something was wrong," Bailey said. "But for the doctor to say there was a mass in my spinal column felt completely overwhelming."
She was referred to Keith Kerr, MD, a neurosurgeon and spine specialist with Memorial Hermann’s Mischer Neuroscience Associates – Cypress, located on the campus of Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital, and Sajini Reji, APRN, an acute care nurse practitioner experienced with caring for neurosurgery patients. Within two days, Bailey was meeting with the team to discuss her diagnosis and treatment options.
Bailey admits she arrived terrified. “I had never broken a bone, never undergone surgery and suddenly faced the possibility of an operation involving my spinal cord,” she said. “I was petrified that I could become paralyzed.”
From that first appointment, Bailey said the team took time to explain her condition, answer her questions and help her understand what surgery would involve.
Dr. Kerr immediately recognized her fears and helped put her at ease. "He explained everything. They were both professional and so reassuring. I think they are both fabulous,” said Bailey.
One moment still stands out months later. "I was sitting on the exam table and Dr. Kerr put his hand on my knee and calmly explained everything,” Bailey said. “He wasn't sugarcoating anything. He was just very calm and supportive.”
She left the appointment feeling confident that she was in good hands. "I left that first appointment having already decided that Dr. Kerr was the guy who was going to remove the mass on my spine. I was confident that I would be fine.”
Specialized Spinal Surgery When Timing Mattered
Bailey's tumor was pressing against her spinal cord in her neck. The spinal cord is the body's main communication pathway between the brain and the rest of the body. Pressure on the spinal cord can cause pain, numbness, weakness and, if left untreated, permanent loss of movement or sensation.
Dr. Kerr recommended surgery without delay. Insurance initially required Bailey to complete six to eight weeks of physical therapy before approving surgery. “Given the location of the tumor and Bailey's worsening neurological symptoms, I knew waiting could have permanent consequences,” Dr. Kerr said.
"He told me right away, 'No, you would be paralyzed by then,'" Bailey said. "He was a huge advocate for getting the surgery approved."
The care team worked to obtain the necessary insurance approval so Bailey could move forward with surgery quickly.
On Oct. 30, 2025, Bailey underwent spinal tumor surgery at Memorial Hermann Cypress. Dr. Kerr performed the procedure as part of the specialized surgical care team supporting Bailey throughout her treatment. He removed part of the back of the vertebrae (bones in the spine) from levels C2 to C5 in the upper neck to safely access the tumor. Because the tumor was located inside the protective covering surrounding the spinal cord, the procedure required careful surgical planning and precision to remove the mass while protecting the spinal cord and surrounding structures.
After removing the tumor, which was found to be noncancerous, Dr. Kerr stabilized Bailey’s neck by placing hardware, including screws and rods, in her cervical spine around the C3 area to provide stability during healing.
Following surgery, Bailey spent about a week recovering in the hospital before she was ready to return home on Nov. 4, 2025.
Relief after Spinal Tumor Surgery
After leaving the hospital, Bailey recovered at her father's home. She wore a neck brace for about three weeks except while sleeping and eating. Physical therapists visited her at home to help her safely regain strength and movement.
Despite the major surgery, Bailey says recovery was easier than living with the pain she had before. "The pain I was in before surgery was so excruciating that the recovery wasn't that bad. In fact, I felt relief. And now I have a full range of motion."
By her two-month follow-up appointment, she realized just how dramatically her life had changed. "I really felt like myself and it's only been two months since my surgery,” she added.
Today, she continues regular follow-up visits with her Mischer Neuroscience Associates – Cypress care team to monitor her recovery and healing.
Back to Her Active Life
Instead of focusing on pain, Bailey can once again focus on what matters most: her family. She is back to cheering from the sidelines, driving to practices and spending time with her children without constant pain dominating every moment.
Looking back, she is grateful not only for the successful surgery but also for the compassion she experienced throughout her care. "All of the people at Memorial Hermann Cypress are fabulous. "Dr. Kerr did a wonderful job at giving me back my life."