There’s something magical about Teena Robb’s sunroom. Even on the cloudiest of days, the space feels warm and bright. It’s Teena herself who brings the real light to the room. Full of life, energy and kindness, she has a way of making you feel instantly at home.
“I’ve always been active,” she says, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. “I enjoy activities like Zumba, boxing, boot camps and lifting weights.”
But around three years ago, that vibrant, busy life came to a halt.
It started with what seemed like a simple rash, which was initially diagnosed as shingles. Then, Teena started experiencing leg pain—also attributed to shingles. This worsened with time and despite trying numerous medications, nothing seemed to help. One day, she realized something was very wrong when she couldn’t move her toes. Her husband, John, a nurse, immediately insisted they push for answers.
Multiple scans and tests later, the real cause of her symptoms was revealed: a spinal fracture and a bone fragment pinching a nerve at the base of her spine. Her spine was so misaligned, she could become permanently paralyzed at any point. Still, she tried to carry on with her life, but the pain was debilitating. Any time she worked out, she would be in agony for days.
To correct the issue, Teena needed surgery. She was referred to Dr. Victor Yang and Dr. Marcelo Oppermann at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). From their very first meeting, Teena felt completely at ease.
“They were so transparent,” Teena recalls. “They didn’t give me an ounce of worry; I had so much confidence in them.”
The day of her operation brought moments she will never forget. Even as her condition worsened, she remained dedicated to her job as a porter at University Hospital—ensuring patients and staff had what they needed. “Dr. Oppermann pushed me into the operating room and stopped the room to tell everyone I had worked right up until my surgery day,” she says with a smile.
Another special memory was when her daughter had gifted her a bracelet, meant to symbolize strength and healing, which was passed around her family for good energy before the surgery. Although Teena couldn’t wear it in the operating room, Dr. Yang understood its emotional significance. He told her that in his culture, as long as the bracelet was in the room, its energy was still with her.
What made Teena’s case even more remarkable was the use of cutting-edge robotics during her operation. This advanced technology allowed the surgeons to make fewer incisions, speeding up her recovery and improving the accuracy of the procedure.
“The robot was so precise, they only had to make two incisions instead of four,” she explains.
The surgery was a success, and although recovery wasn’t always easy, Teena has made great strides. Teena is extremely grateful to her physiotherapist, Jessie Bartelen, who keeps her moving forward. Teena notes how Jessie encourages her during her bad days and pushes her harder on her good days.
“I forget sometimes that I had such a major surgery. I feel so good, like I can just go, go, go!” she says. “I’m not in pain. I’m absolutely amazed by how I feel.”
When asked to summarize her experience in one word, Teena doesn’t hesitate: “Freedom.” She’s now free from pain, free from the fear of paralysis and free to fully live her life again.