Meet Bailey

My Journey with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Nuss Procedure

I first noticed some asymmetry in my chest during my senior year of high school, but it wasn’t until college that it became more pronounced. As a collegiate lacrosse player, I wear a Catapult device during practices and games that tracks my heart rate and recovery and both were consistently outside the normal range, so I was closely monitored by my athletic trainers.

When I came home for the summer after my first year in college, we connected with Dr. Kenney and Dr. VanArendonk at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. After some evaluation, including an MRI to determine the severity of the condition, I was diagnosed with both pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum. Both doctors helped me understand the options for surgery, and so did nurse Dee. She was so nice and answered all our questions. I met with the doctors again over winter break, and together we decided the best course of action to alleviate the pressure on my heart and create space in my chest would be surgery after my spring season.

In May 2025, I had the Nuss Procedure performed by both doctors. Two bars were placed in my chest to lift my left chest wall off my heart and lung, and it created greater symmetry. My heart and lungs have way more room to breathe now! 

One person who helped me through it was my pre- and post-op nurse, who was my childhood babysitter, Sophie VanderStoep. Sophie’s familiar face made a big difference for both me and my parents. It brought a sense of calm and reassurance on surgery day. 

After surgery, I stayed overnight in the hospital and began a slow and steady recovery. That night in the hospital was not a big deal thanks to the staff at NCH. I know they are used to younger patients, so I think they enjoyed having me! For the first few weeks at home, I slept in a recliner and took short walks to build back strength. My mom made a connection with a former student of hers, Brady Delmore, who had this same procedure at NCH, so he was someone that helped me understand the surgery and the things to expect post-surgery. There are lots of different things, like the vibrations of the bars, that are unexpected so it was helpful to hear from someone that it was normal.

Just 12 weeks post-op, I’m already lifting weights, doing speed work, and I’m back out shooting in the lacrosse cages. The team at Nationwide stayed in contact with my USF coaches and trainers throughout my diagnosis and recovery so my parents felt confident that I could return to training.I will check back in with Dr. Vanarendok next summer and in a few years I will have the bars removed. 

I know when I step back onto the field this fall, I’ll have the doctors and nurses at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to thank. Their expertise, compassion, and partnership helped me return not just to sport, but to full health.

~ Bailey