Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 51

cord to the point that it was bruised,"
explains Cally. "Then, the reality of just
how severe my condition was set in.
My neurologist said that if I didn't get
surgery, I would be paralyzed from the
neck down."

Finding the
RIGHT DOCTOR
"I've always loved Gwinnett Medical
Center," Cally says. "They are not only
health care professionals; they're also
your neighbors and friends." So when it
came time to choose a neurosurgeon for
her surgery, she sought the advice of one
of GMC's top cardiovascular surgeons,
someone she knew personally. "I said
to him, 'If your wife had this issue, who
would you want to be her surgeon?'
That's when he told me about Dr. Ayer."
Right away, Cally knew she had made
the right choice with Robert Ayer, MD,
a neurosurgeon at GMG's Neurosurgery
& Spine Associates, and GMC. She
is quick to admit, "I did get a couple
of other opinions, but I felt most
comfortable with Dr. Ayer. I'm someone
who likes to be actively involved in my
health care, and Dr. Ayer answered all of
my questions with kindness. He gave me
multiple options, and we decided on the
cervical arthroplasty, a newer procedure,

as it would not limit my motion and
would lessen the chances of me having
future surgery. With a serious surgery
like this, I needed a surgeon I could
really trust."

Life AFTER SURGERY
Post-surgery, life for Cally has been
better than expected. "After the surgery,
I am doing well," she says. "I even
returned to work in just three short
weeks, which is remarkable." Since
then, she's talked with several people
who went through the same procedure
without the same life-changing results.
She attributes her success to the care
provided by Dr. Ayer.

"When you go through something
like this, it puts life into perspective.
I learned that a full life and good health
are synonymous. You can't truly have
one without the other."
In sharing her story, Cally hopes
others suﬀering from back pain will
learn from her experience and seek
help sooner. ■

LEFT: PHOTO BY GETTY/LONDONEYE; RIGHT: PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK

WEBSITE

Experiencing Pain?
Don't Wait!
GMC's Back Pain Center oﬀers
comprehensive care for people
suﬀering from back pain. From
physical therapy to minimally
invasive spinal surgery, we oﬀer
a full spectrum of diagnostic and
treatment options. To learn more
or to make an appointment, visit
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/
backpain.

WINTE R 2017

51

http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/backpain http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/backpain

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Contents
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover1
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Contents
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Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover3
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover4
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