Chapters Transcript Video Nuss Procedure at CHKD to Correct Pectus Excavatum Christopher tells his story about having the Nuss Procedure done at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. My name is Christopher and I had the nurse procedure done at Children's Hospital of the King's daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. So as a kid before the surgery, I had a more introverted lifestyle, I was more to myself, I would stay at home. I wouldn't go out and play with my friends as much, especially in the summertime, the warmer months when some of the activities were pool parties and beach activities, um, sports outside, things like that and it all stemmed from the fear of having to explain why I look so different than them. And that was because I had Pectus X at bottom Chkd was the right place for my surgery because I had the right people going from doctors back home who did not know about my condition and did not know about the available treatments was a stark contrast to arriving at CHKD where everyone knew exactly what I had going on and how to fix it for my parents who ultimately have the decision as to whether or not I would get this procedure done. They were immediately put at ease by the doctors and staff from the moment they walked in throughout the whole process. My physical health immediately improved. Um From day one, skiing and snowboarding. That's what I first got into after the surgery and uh martial arts, I started with karate. Then I went to boxing and jiu-jitsu and just amateur sports with my friends racquetball in the gym. Things like that have all been uh second nature from the time I had the surgery done. So mentally, it was a drastic increase in my self confidence and self esteem to go from someone who was self conscious about removing their shirt or even hugging someone for fear of them noticing that you were different and having to explain to them that you have this deformity to someone who then became complimented on their appearance is a drastic change and it's hard to really put it in words, how, how important that was to me, I would tell a kid who's considering the nus procedure first. Congratulations that you found the solution to this problem that you've had. The second I tell them that you're now at a moment of your life where it's a fork in the road, you could decide to go one way or take the other path for me. The path that I took to go through with it was the best decision that I've ever made. I could say that without a doubt, I have so many blessings in my life from that moment on, I had a normal life from that point on I even forgot, I even had this, this condition. It's for me a complete cure. I would tell the parents of a child considering the nus procedure. That first of all, this is not a cosmetic procedure. No matter what anyone tells you, there's a significant impact that this is having on your child right now. Whether or not they're telling you fully how much it affects them. From my experience, it's a lot more than you can imagine. I would then tell them that you have a solution in front of you. That's a good solution. And if you choose that solution for your child one day, they'll be thanking you for changing their life. Created by
