Teena’s Story

Teena Robb has always been full of energy. Whether it was Zumba, boxing, boot camps or weightlifting, she thrived on staying active and pushing her limits.

“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 sudden halt.

It began with what seemed like a simple rash—initially diagnosed as shingles. Soon after, Teena began experiencing severe leg pain, which was also attributed to the same condition. But the pain only worsened, and no medication seemed to help. One day, she realized something was deeply wrong when she couldn’t move her toes. Her husband, John, a nurse, immediately urged her to push for answers.

After a series of scans and tests, doctors finally uncovered the real cause: a spinal fracture and a bone fragment pinching a nerve at the base of her spine. Her spine was so misaligned that she was at risk of becoming permanently paralyzed at any moment.

Determined to carry on, Teena tried to maintain her regular routine—but the pain was debilitating. Any physical activity would leave her in agony for days. Eventually, surgery became the only option.

She was referred to Dr. Victor Yang and Dr. Marcelo Oppermann at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), and from their very first meeting, Teena felt a sense of relief.

“They were so transparent,” she recalls. “They didn’t give me an ounce of worry; I had so much confidence in them.”

The day of her operation brought emotional moments she will never forget. Even as her condition worsened, Teena continued working as a porter at University Hospital—supporting patients and staff right up until the day of her surgery.

“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 meaningful moment came when her daughter gifted her a bracelet meant to symbolize strength and healing. It was passed around her family for good energy before her procedure. Though she couldn’t wear it in the operating room, Dr. Yang recognized its importance. He reassured her that in his culture, simply having the bracelet in the room meant its energy was still with her.

Teena’s case was also groundbreaking for another reason—the use of advanced robotics in her surgery. This cutting-edge technology allowed the surgeons to make fewer incisions, which improved precision and accelerated her recovery.

“The robot was so precise, they only had to make two incisions instead of four,” she explains.

The surgery was a success. While recovery had its challenges, Teena has made incredible progress. She credits her physiotherapist, Jessie Bartelen, for helping her get stronger each day—pushing her through the hard days and celebrating her good ones.

“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 sum up her journey in one word, Teena doesn’t hesitate:
“Freedom.”

She’s now free from pain, free from the fear of paralysis—and free to live life on her own terms once again.