Lara Ross

I am wildly fortunate to have known and been treated by Dr Shiraz Qureshi prior to his joining HSS. In 2014 he fused my spine at L4-L5 with great success. He was incredibly thorough in his testing of my condition and while an MRI showed deterioration at L5-S1 testing revealed no discomfort in that area. I had two years of being pain-free. Unfortunately, for the better part of 2016 and until June 5th, 2017, my pain was constant. As a mother of two active boys I found the only way I could get through a day was to spend hours lying on the floor. It was depressing to miss out on events, to not be able to exercise, to not feel myself.

I have long been a patient of the wonderful Dr. Vijay Vad and he did all he could with injections and blocks. These would give me weeks of relief but soon thereafter the pain returned. In 2017 I gain sought Dr. Qureshi's counsel and with new tests we all agreed surgery was my best option.

On June 5th, 2017 I entered HSS. From the moment I walked into the patient waiting room I was treated with the utmost care and concern. The preoperative nurses were amazing as was everyone in the OR. Dr. Qureshi performed an anterior lumbar fusion of L5-S1. Shortly after being transferred to my room Dr. Qureshi called in-between procedures to check on me. He was very pleased with the results of the surgery and while he has never given me guarantees (as I believe no surgeon can) he assured me that given the instability he found he was certain I was going to feel better. Better is an understatement. From the very first moment my feet touched the floor I felt like my old self. Stable. Pain-free. It's important to note the nurses were INCREDIBLE. They were adamant that I call on them rather than risk a fall. Their care was the perfect follow through to my successful surgery.

On June 18th a friend invited my son and I on an impromptu trip. My first reaction was to email Dr. Qureshi to ask permission! His "have fun!" response was all I needed. On June 20th, FIFTEEN days after spinal fusion I was snowmobiling on a glacier in Iceland. I'd endured a year where car trips longer than thirty minutes required pain medication and thanks to Dr. Qureshi's brilliant skill I was enjoying every moment with my son, pain-free.

Pain is tricky. There are many ways to lessen it. There are modalities that can help you cope with it. But fighting it can be exhausting. And depressing. I spent far too many hours feeling sad. Far too many hours lying on the floor looking for temporary relief. In a procedure that took an hour and a half Dr. Qureshi and the team at HSS gave me my life back. There are no words of thanks that are deep enough or meaningful enough to express my gratitude.

While I wish no one needed the services of this extraordinary doctor and hospital I can say with every assurance that there is no one and nowhere better. Dr. Qureshi is kind, humble and above all intensely vested in his patients well being. He and HSS are amazing.