Jeren Hall’s smile lights up every room he enters. At 17 years old, he is nonverbal, autistic and lives with epilepsy. His mother, Tracey, describes him as a happy young man who is friendly to everyone and full of joy. “We’ve always known he was on the spectrum,” Tracey said. “We only discovered the epilepsy a few years ago.”
In mid-2023, during a routine checkup, Jeren’s pediatrician noticed something unusual about his posture. “That’s how we first knew about the scoliosis,” Tracey said.
Later that year, Jeren fell and fractured his knee. “His knee was swollen, and he was limping. We went to the emergency room,” she said.
During a follow-up visit at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital with Alfred Mansour III, MD, professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, they were also introduced to Timothy Borden, MD, assistant professor and director of the Pediatric Scoliosis and Spine Program in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at UTHealth Houston. Both are affiliated pediatric orthopedic surgeons with the Pediatric Scoliosis and Spinal Deformity Program at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, which specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of children with spinal curvature and other complex spinal conditions.
“Dr. Borden happened to stop by. He was so kind and welcoming and took Jeren in right away to check his spine,” Tracey said.
An X-ray of Jeren’s spine showed a 66-degree curve on the left side. “He was diagnosed with neuromuscular scoliosis. We were told it’s more complex because of his other medical conditions,” Tracey said. “He had worn a brace on his back when he was younger, but this was something different.”
At first, Dr. Borden recommended monitoring Jeren’s condition. He returned for checkups throughout the year. By September, the curve had progressed to 69 degrees. Dr. Borden explained that the scoliosis could eventually affect Jeren’s ability to walk and get up on his own.
“He can run and play. Even though he’s nonverbal, he’s very active. When I heard it might stop him from doing those things, I knew we had to get ahead of it,” Tracey said.
The scoliosis surgery was scheduled for Oct. 14, 2024. “I was scared more than anything,” Tracey said. “With him being nonverbal and autistic, it was hard to explain to him what was going to happen.”
Dr. Borden performed the surgery alongside his partner, Surya Mundluru, MD, MBA, an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at UTHealth Houston. Dr. Mundluru is also a pediatric orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. Together, they used 19 screws and two rods to straighten the spine and prevent the curve from worsening. That evening, Jeren was monitored in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) while recovering from anesthesia.
“He told me, ‘I need Jeren up and moving the next morning.’ And sure enough, he jumped out of bed,” Tracey said. “They gave him day one, two and three to walk around the nurse’s station and he passed with flying colors. I could never tell his true pain, but I’d say recovery was as smooth as it could be. I was so used to him being slumped over and now he’s straight. He’s lost a little weight. He’s happy.”
The staff at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital made sure Jeren had what he needed to feel comfortable. “I’ve worked in health care a long time and I love how the hospital is set up. I didn’t have to wait eight or nine months to see a specialist. Everyone we met cared deeply,” said Tracey. “Kristin Cox did our pre-admission and walked us through the hospital. She would go above and beyond and even found oat milk for Jeren because he’s allergic to things like nuts, milk, fish and shellfish. Nurse Lucy Hurta always made sure he had his applesauce. He has to take 18 pills every day and he takes them all with applesauce.”
Above all, Tracey appreciated how the team gave her space to make the right decision. “My doctor didn’t rush me or push me toward surgery,” she said. “We were very apprehensive about it, but he let us observe until we couldn’t anymore. I never felt pressured.”
As a pharmacist and a mom, Tracey balanced her medical knowledge with maternal instinct. She asked questions, did her research and leaned on her faith throughout the process. “A lot of prayer helped me through the challenging times,” she added. “And Jeren’s smile brightens up my life and my day.”
Today, Jeren is back to doing what he loves: attending school at Dawson High School in Pearland, spending time with his family and moving with more ease and confidence than before. His posture is noticeably straighter, his energy is steady and his joyful spirit continues to shine.
“He’s still that same smiling boy, but now he’s standing tall,” Tracey said. “I’m so grateful we did it. I look at him now and think we made the right decision at the right time. This was the best choice for Jeren’s future.”
Learn more about scoliosis care and treatment options at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital »