John Sarcona
USA- A Life-Changing Transformation
- A Twisted Childhood
- The Agony of braces
- A Crisis Point
- A Constrictive Brace
- Adapting to Adversity
- The Progression of Deformity
- Impending Catastrophe
- A Critical Emergency
- Hour by Hour Deterioration
- A Life-Saving Intervention
- "Basically, it was crushing him to death," said Joan.
- A Second Chance
- A Life-Changing Surgery
- Recovery and Transformation
- He has grown taller.
- A Brighter Future
A Life-Changing Transformation
John Sarkona, a teenager from New York, endured a debilitating combination of scoliosis and kyphosis, leaving him close to death as his spine crushed his internal organs. A remarkable 13-hour surgery saved his life.
A Twisted Childhood
For the first 17 years of his life, John Sarka lived with an agonizingly twisted spine that resembled a question mark. His spine began curving in two different directions when he was only five years old. The deformity threatened his life and compromised his internal organs. Throughout his childhood and much of his adolescence, John underwent countless unsuccessful attempts to alleviate his excruciating pain.
The Agony of braces
Before his life-saving procedure, John had become accustomed to surgeries; he had undergone 18 operations, one every six months, to counteract the progression of his spinal curvature. In between procedures, John wore a cumbersome plastic brace for 18 hours a day, severely restricting his movement but holding his body in place when he bent or ran.
A Crisis Point
During puberty, John's spinal deformities escalated. He suffered from two conditions: scoliosis (a lateral curvature of the spine) and kyphosis (a humpback deformity). Scoliosis, which causes the spine to curve in an 'S' shape, is common among children and adolescents, while kyphosis typically affects older adults and was once commonly known as hunchback. The condition causes the spine to curve in a 'C' shape. In John's case, both conditions worked in tandem, pulling different sections of his spine back, forward, left, and right—as if his bones were made of aluminum.
A Constrictive Brace
"The brace was torturous. It made me extremely hot, and I was constantly itching," John told New York's Health Matters. His mother, Joan, added, "I just hated putting him in the brace." "He was such a busy boy. He would always ask me, 'Can you take it off, Mom?' when he wanted to play with his brother and friends or when he just got tired of it. We thought it was just a temporary inconvenience and that our son would eventually outgrow it."
Adapting to Adversity
Despite his discomfort with the brace, John learned to cope. He grew accustomed to the pain of his "squiggly" bones and to the pressure exerted by the uncomfortable materials of his brace. An avid sports fan, John refused to let his deformities and his medieval-looking brace prevent him from attending games and even playing himself.
The Progression of Deformity
The biannual surgeries stabilized John's condition and slowed the progression of both scoliosis and kyphosis. However, by the age of 16, John could barely walk across his bedroom without becoming short of breath, let alone run around on a basketball court. A year later, his mother noticed a bloody patch on one of John's T-shirts while doing laundry. Alarmed, Joan asked her son to show her his back when he got home from school with his father.
Impending Catastrophe
John's spine was "spinning" so rapidly and violently that the implanted metal rods were now failing. In effect, the curvature of his spine had twisted the rods to such an extent that they had broken through his skin and were protruding from his back. The rods had become infected. "They were black and looked like tumors," said Joan.
A Critical Emergency
Furthermore, John's oxygen levels had dropped to a dangerously low level. His family called his doctor, who instructed them to bypass his office and the emergency room and go straight to a specialist.
Hour by Hour Deterioration
The teenager's spine was bent into a severe 'C' shape, almost at a right angle. By the time he saw Dr. Lawrence Lenke at New York-Presbyterian, his spine had curved to a 140-degree angle.
A Life-Saving Intervention
As Dr. Lenke explained to the Sarka family, their son's spine was "collapsing hour by hour." The spine was putting immense pressure on and crushing his heart and lungs.
"Basically, it was crushing him to death," said Joan.
Traction and TransformationWasting no time, John's new medical team performed halo traction—a metal ring surgically attached to the skull with screws under anesthesia. The halo was connected to rods, stabilizing his condition and allowing them to slowly start straightening John's spine.
A Second Chance
The relief was almost instantaneous. Over six weeks, Dr. Lenke and his team restored John to a safe condition; he gained ten pounds.
A Life-Changing Surgery
Then, on December 8, 2016, the teenager underwent a marathon surgery. His spine was literally taken apart, rebuilt, and put back together—without any damage to the spinal cord.
After the delicate 13-hour procedure—one of the longest of Lenke's career—John's spine had been miraculously reshaped. His circulation and neurological function were fully restored.
Recovery and Transformation
Just three days after spending time in the intensive care unit, the young man was back on his feet. Two years on, John still marvels at his new mobility and physique. He cycles, plays golf, and shoots baskets.
He has grown taller.
"I remember looking in the mirror and going, 'Oh my gosh, is that really me?' It felt so good to see myself so slim and straight," said John.
Dressed to impress in a sharp tuxedo, John walked proudly across the stage at his high school graduation in May 2018.
A Brighter Future
He is excited about the future, looking forward to college and finally being free from the six-monthly surgeries that were once a lifeline.
"When my son walked out and got his diploma, it was pure joy," said Joan. "It's the same feeling I have when John takes a swing on the golf course and when he talks about going to college."
