Imagine how you would feel if your body suddenly stopped allowing you to do what you’ve loved most for decades.
That’s exactly what happened to 91-year-old Julia Tourtellotte of Summerville, South Carolina. The talented dancer has been clogging since she was in her 40s and teaches dance at her local senior center. So when she started feeling pain in her legs in 2018, she was determined not to let it keep her from pursuing her passion.
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To treat the pain, she initially received shots in her legs, but when those stopped being effective, she had to look elsewhere. That’s how she discovered Dr. Sabino D’Agostino, a neurosurgeon who works at Trident Medical Center.
After hearing her story, D’Agostino felt optimistic about her treatment. “She wants to live life,” he explained. “She was not going to take a backseat to her pain and she wanted help.”
He recommended a new robotic spine surgery, which was minimally invasive and only available at Trident. Eager to get back into her normal routine, Julia agreed.
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The procedure turned out to be a huge success! As soon as she woke up from the surgery, she shared the wonderful news that she felt no pain in her leg.
Three months later, Julia completed her rehabilitation and returned to the hospital to share a special moment with the doctor who let her keep dancing.
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Of course, nothing could have been more special than sharing a dance! With Julia in the lead, the two of them happily clogged together in the hospital lobby while another staff member caught it all on video.
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Thanks to D’Agostino’s expertise and passion for helping others, Julia can keep doing what she loves. We can’t wait to see what she conquers next!
Watch D’Agostino try to keep up with the talented nonagenarian in the video below, and share this feel-good story with your friends.
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