Kathryn Sorensen

Apparently, I’m complicated.

At 43 years old, living with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and having undergone more than 40 surgeries, I already knew that. But what I didn’t know was how unprepared most medical centers would be when I developed severe pain near my lumbar/sacroiliac fusion — a surgery I had 12 years earlier. This includes several world renowned medical centers local to where I live in North Carolina.

I searched for answers everywhere. I went to five different medical centers locally across the country and reached out to at least four others — only to be told, some without even seeing me, that they couldn’t help. The pain had been worsening for over a year to the point where I needed pain medication around the clock (and as someone from New Jersey, I don’t say that lightly). I was struggling to keep up with basic chores. I stopped going out with friends. I had to request accommodations to work from home. I canceled trips. I kept searching for answers, and with every “You’re too complicated” I heard from a doctor, I sank deeper into hopelessness.

Then I came to HSS and found myself in Dr. Lovecchio’s office.

From the moment I met him, I immediately trusted him. He was kind, thoughtful, brilliant, and — most importantly — he listened. I didn’t leave that first appointment with a plan, but I left with something even more valuable: hope. Dr. Lovecchio ordered a series of tests, carefully explaining each one and the reasoning behind it. He acknowledged the burden of these tests — the time, the hassle of going back and forth between North Carolina and New York City, the exhaustion of yet another round of hospital visits, and the expense. But he was determined to understand my body and my pain. His team, especially Adelyn, went above and beyond to coordinate everything to the least amount of trips back and forth as possible, making sure I felt supported every step of the way.

Despite all the testing, there was no conclusive evidence of what was causing my pain. But at my follow-up, Dr. Lovecchio said something that changed everything: “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I believe you. I trust you. I don't know if I'll find anything, but I'm willing to do surgery to see what’s going on.”

Having a doctor who trusts you is one of the greatest gifts a healthcare provider can give a patient. And in my case, it changed everything.

During surgery, he discovered that the screws from my sacroiliac fusion had come loose — something that hadn’t shown up on any test. He replaced them, and just like that, in a matter of a few hours, the mystery of my pain was solved and fixed.

Dr. Lovecchio isn’t just one of the best surgeons I’ve had — he’s genuinely one of the best people I’ve ever met. Everyone at the hospital who saw that I was his patient also raved about him. Thankfully, since he’s younger than me, I know he’ll be my go-to spine surgeon for years to come.

I’ve had surgeries at eight different hospitals with countless surgeons across the country, and Dr. Lovecchio and his team stand out as among the very best. I will always be grateful that he didn’t give up on me. If you’re looking for a surgeon who truly listens and cares, with a supportive staff who go above and beyond, look no further.

I’ve faced many tough decisions regarding my health, but choosing Dr. Lovecchio as my surgeon was one of the easiest — and best — choices I’ve ever made.