Meet Summer, the heart behind the studio
Discover the personal journey that inspired Summer's Scoliosis Studio and how her lived experience shapes a unique approach to wellbeing.
The Beginning...
I was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis in 2013, but no treatment was offered at the time. It was mistakenly dismissed as a watch-and-wait case.
When my spine began compressing my heart and lungs, surgery became urgent to preserve my life. In November 2014, I finally had the operation that changed my life. It was an extremely invasive, high-stakes surgery that included ten spinal fusions, five rib releases (broken ribs) and two titanium rods secured by metal screws, hooks and wires. The surgery wasn't as successful as hoped. During the spinal correction itself, I experienced a temporary loss of spinal cord function (paralysis); therefore, any further spinal correction was abandoned to keep my spinal cord intact.
This sudden shift took me from being a carefree young person to someone isolated and ashamed with debilitating anxiety. I lived in chronic pain, unable to participate in basic physical activities, I had little hope for what lay ahead. The surgery left me struggling both physically and emotionally, with minimal support from both medical professionals and the community. It took many years to heal.
pre-surgery (October 2014)
post surgery, a total of ten fusions T2 - L1, my heart is still compressed, but less so than before surgery.
Healing and Helping Others
Eventually, I was able to be active again, and in 2021, I qualified as a personal trainer, becoming very passionate about running, cycling and functional strength training.
The studio came about in an organic way. Passionate about fitness, my wonderful husband put the studio together before we met. He is also a personal trainer with a busy client base here at the studio.
I am now married with a young daughter. But as much as the initial difficulties are over, the scars remain, as do the day-to-day challenges that come with living with severe scoliosis and spinal fusions.
This season pushed me to embrace self‑advocacy. It’s a skill I have had to learn, because many of us choose to struggle quietly instead of asking for help, myself included. Speaking up can feel uncomfortable and at times, our challenges can be invisible, but the need for clear and steady self‑advocacy is not—and it deserves to be acknowledged.
By sharing my lived experience, I aim to bridge the gap that truly needs attention. Using my unique sense of connection to spark meaningful change, I'm committed to advocating for prevention, early diagnosis, and proactive, conservative, long-term solutions that last a lifetime.
Progress in and beyond the water...
Lake Coleridge, New Zealand
In 2020, I earned my rescue scuba diver certificate after three months of full‑time training, travelling around the South Island. The course was physically intense, with long days, demanding drills, and oxygen tanks that weighed around 8 kilos. I also received my night, boat and shipwreck certification during this time. Achieving this with severe scoliosis and spinal fusions made the experience even more meaningful.