Patient Stories
Hagar | I will never forget what you did for me and my family
Good Afternoon, Dr. Vitale and Amber, Today I took the biggest step in my life, which was me graduating Queens College and getting my bachelor degree in psychology. In one year, September, 2025, I will be continuing my education and getting my master degree in psychology to become a guidance counselor. I wanted to thank you for everything you guys have done ... MORE >
Michael | Michael Is a Scoliosis Warrior!
This is Michael wearing his scoliosis warrior shirt with his brace. We met him at 8 months of age with a 29-degree major curve with an RVAD of approximately 25 degrees. He then came back 4 months later and had a standing xray that showed a 40 degree curve with an RVAD of 53. Read Michael's Case Study > MORE >
Marielle | She is happy, healthy, and thriving.
Marielle is a girl who first came to Dr. Vitale at 10 months of age for a second opinion of her Idiopathic Infantile Scoliosis. She initially presented with a major curve of 30 degrees and a minor curve of 12 degrees, and Dr. Vitale recommended observation. Dr. Vitale saw her again when she was 18 months old and her major ... MORE >
Margaret | I’m on the mend and I AM BACK in the saddle again!
An Update from Margaret: After 10 years of brace-wearing, my curve had progressed past the point of stability and threatened to inhibit the physical aspects and activities I enjoy so much in life. On August 3rd of 2022, I received a corrective spinal fusion that shifted my life forever. After just six weeks of recovery, I was back on my ... MORE >
Eliya | Having the ability to ask questions is priceless, and there’s always been someone there from Dr. Vitale’s team or NYP every step of the way
For Eliya's parents, finding out their 11-year-old daughter had spondylolisthesis came with a mix of fears and emotions they hadn’t anticipated. Her mother, Mairev, says, “Eliya just woke up one morning in excruciating pain.” After taking her to a doctor in Israel, where they live, and learning about Eliya’s diagnosis, her mother immediately began researching treatments and specialists who could help ... MORE >
Mia | My first day back on the slopes felt better than ever
At 14, Mia enjoyed playing sports and hanging out with her friends, she had known about her scoliosis for years and had some occasional back pain but nothing that would hold her back from doing the things she loved. Doctors monitored Mia’s scoliosis over the years without issue, but during a normal checkup in the summer of 2020 it became ... MORE >
Zara | Conservative Care Reverses Zara’s Curve Progression
The curve in Zara’s spine had been monitored over the years by her pediatrician but was never a cause for serious concern. However, by the time she was 13, the curvature was progressing rapidly enough that her doctor said she would need to wear a brace. Zara’s mother, Sabrina, was hopeful that a second opinion might provide them with alternatives ... MORE >
Angela | There is no other doctor that I would trust with my daughter
Angela was diagnosed with Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis when she was only seven months old. At that young of an age, there are very few treatment methods available. At the time Dr. Michael Vitale was of the only doctors who specialized in this type of scoliosis and casting young children. "From the moment I got the news that my baby had an issue with her spine I ... MORE >
Serena | The pain I experienced before the surgery is completely gone
When I was 12, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. I had two curves one about 39 degrees and the other around 56 degrees. My back was constantly in pain and I was always so uncomfortable no matter what way I sat, stood, or layed down. I started going to a chiropractor in the summer of 2019, and I tried that ... MORE >
Zoe | Zoe’s story—thorough scoliosis care results in positive outcomes
Zoe, a junior in high school has familial dysautonomia, which is a genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and tends to cause scoliosis. As Zoe’s spine started to curve more, her family came to a point where intervention needed to be done. “ The current orthopedist we were seeing kept pushing for surgery and wouldn’t back down, so we needed to get a second opinion ... MORE >