Alexa
16-year-old | scoliosis patient
From ice skating to art curating, Alexa is doing what she loves.
Curate your own dreams
When Alexa was younger she fell in love with the art of ice skating. Today, she still skates but another form of art has stolen her heart. From renaissance to impressionism, 16-year-old scoliosis patient Alexa dreams of curating her favorite works of art when she's older. Find out what she's drawn up for her own exhibit.
Favorite Care Team Member
Understanding the art of spinal surgery
Every child is different. Every dream unique. And no one understands this more than Christopher Redman, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Children's Health℠ Andrews Institute. Before treating Alexa, he sat down with her to understand her hopes and dreams. This helped him devise a care plan for her to succeed in the future – be it ice skating or art history.
Patient Story
Painting the road to recovery
At age 16, Alexa Hassell underwent spinal surgery to repair severe scoliosis at the Children's Health℠ Andrews Institute Spine Center. Four months after surgery, she was back studying art history and participating in her favorite pastime – ice skating.
Favorite Art work
Dreaming of water lilies
Waking up to just one of the 250 paintings of water lilies by French Impressionist Claude Monet would be a dream come true for Alexa. Depicting Monet's flower garden, these oil paintings were done in the last 30 years of Monet's life. And although breathtaking, he suffered from severe cataracts while creating them. You might say art was his form of therapy.
Favorite Activity
Skating is a pastime pleasure
Ice skating has always come naturally for 16-year-old Alexa Hassell. And although it's not her dream job, she can't imagine her life without it. In fact, she competes regularly and coaches younger skaters weekly. Are you ready to take your game up to a competitive level?