Hello, survivalists. This is the crux true survival stories. I'm your host Casey McIntosh. As we close

out this year, we often reflect on what truly matters. We make resolutions, we're setting goals to

learn bigger, but how often do we appreciate what we already have? The ability to walk to the kitchen,

tie our shoes, move through the world independently. Today's story will change

how you think about resilience and gratitude. I'm speaking with Teresa and Brian, a couple whose

love was tested in unimaginable ways. A routine surgery to fix Teresa's lifelong back problem

left her with a paralyzed leg. Just like that, everything changed. This is a story about loss and recovery, dark moments

and unexpected joy, and a marriage that grew stronger through it all. It's about finding hope

when the path forward seems impossible. In part two, I'll be speaking with Dr. Mitchell Siruja,

the surgeon who performed Teresa's groundbreaking nerve transplant surgery.

Make sure to listen to both episodes.

As you listen, I hope you'll find yourself grateful,

not just for the big moments for all of the little movements we take for granted.

Teresa, could you tell me a little bit about your history of scoliosis and what led to the surgery that completely changed your life?

Well, I noticed in high school that I was bent over and kind of leaning a little bit. So my mom was

very concerned. And we took me to a doctor and he says, okay, I can help you. Let's keep this from getting

worse. So what they did in 1984 is they did a Harrington rod surgery. And what it is, they put this

metal rod and I had to wear like this awful back brace for six months. In the 80s, that was like

the best thing to do for scoliosis. They didn't realize that, you know, 20, 30, 40 years later,

it was causing the last part of my spine to disintegrate. So that's where I

needed a second surgery. Okay. And so what was the second surgery going to entail? What were they going to do?

Well, my doctor said, this was the surgery I had four years ago. He said, okay, we're going to fuse

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