Sarah Hudson has never been one to let anything hold her back. Not a genetic condition that resulted in her being hospitalized for much of the first seven years of her life, or disease-associated spinal curvature. Whatever Sarah has dreamed of doing, swimming, diving, running marathons or dancing, she has simply made it happen.
Sarah was born with Noonan syndrome, a genetic condition that can result in spinal curvature and other abnormalities. She underwent her first surgery for scoliosis at age 13 with the Center for Spinal Disorders at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Soon after, she was back enjoying her favorite activities, including dancing and participating in school swim and dive teams. She later took up marathon running.
In 2015, during a routine follow-up visit with the Center for Spinal Disorders, Sarah, then a college senior, learned that she needed another spinal fusion procedure, due to changes that had occurred associated with Noonan syndrome. Sarah didn’t bat an eye. In the fall of 2015, she arranged to finish classes at the University of Miami early so that she could undergo surgery in November.
In 2016, with clearance from her surgeon, Dr. Jahangir Asghar, she was back running marathons and later celebrated her graduation with friends and family.
“I truly am so grateful for all of my doctors at Nicklaus Children’s. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them,“
aid Sarah, who plans to pursue graduate studies to become a child psychologist.
