Building Vitality Together - Kathy’s Story

Kathy Cleary has led a full and active life, working as a dental assistant, a receptionist and a housekeeper for the musician John Denver before opening Toujours Boutique in Newport, a store she ran for 21 years. 

She also keeps and rides horses. That’s how she first injured her back when she was thrown off a horse. 

“I hit a fence,” Cleary recalled. “I think that started the process.”

Arthritis and aging did the rest.

But thanks to successful surgery to repair spinal stenosis, a painful condition caused by wear and tear, Cleary is now enjoying retirement and back to riding. 

Cleary first had spinal fusion, a type of back surgery to fix problems with the bones in her spine, in 2012. But after several years of relief, her lower back pain returned in 2018. 

Two factors complicated matters. 

First, Cleary’s previous surgeon had retired. Second, she wanted to avoid an adverse reaction to anesthesia following her first surgery.

“He was very proactive in figuring this out,” Cleary said. “I was over-the-top impressed.”

The surgery was a success. 

“Everything went swimmingly,” Cleary said. 

She was prepared to take up to two weeks off work. But she was back in just six days. 

At age 72, Cleary was looking to slow down. And with her recovery complete, the timing for retirement felt right. 

“It really was time to retire,” she said.

So she recently closed shop and moved to Phoenix. 

“Life is good,” Cleary reports from her new home in the desert sunshine.

While she hopes she never has to have back surgery again, without hesitation she recommends Dr. Noonan and Samaritan Neurosurgery. 

“Besides his extreme talent as a surgeon, he listens to you,” Cleary said. “I really appreciate that.”