A story of Hope

Spinal surgery clears way for life-saving liver transplant for OHSU patient

By Erik Robinson November 21, 2017 Portland, Oregon

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Vicki Hope (left) meets with her surgeon Erin Maynard, M.D., for a post-transplant exam, June 16, 2017 at OHSU. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Liver donation recipient

Physician's assistant Meghan Sells meets with Vicki Hope and her husband Ed, for Vicki's post-transplant exam, June 16, 2017 at OHSU. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Liver donation recipient

Erin Maynard, M.D., meets with Vicki Hope for a post-transplant exam, June 16, 2017 at OHSU. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Liver donation recipient

Vicki Hope was in extreme liver failure but had to first undergo a surgery for dropped head syndrome in order to be eligible for a liver transplant. Surgeons corrected her dropped head syndrome, and a liver became available for transplant shortly after. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Surgery corrects dropped head syndrome 2016

Khoi Than, M.D., talks with Vicki Hope, 56, of Boring during a routine follow-up appointment, Dec. 22, 2016. Hope underwent spinal repair surgery on Nov. 28, 2016 at OHSU to correct a rare condition known as dropped head syndrome. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Surgery corrects dropped head syndrome 2016

Vicki Hope, 56, of Boring underwent spinal repair surgery on Nov. 28, 2016 at OHSU to correct a rare condition known as dropped head syndrome. Her third and fourth vertebrae were removed and replaced with a cage packed with bone. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Surgery corrects dropped head syndrome 2016

Khoi Than, M.D., an assistant professor of neurosurgery in the OHSU School of Medicine who described Hope’s condition as the worst case of dropped head syndrome he’d ever seen. Vicki Hope, 56, of Boring underwent spinal repair surgery on Nov. 28, 2016 at OHSU to correct a rare condition known as dropped head syndrome. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Surgery corrects dropped head syndrome 2016

Before and after images show the drastic change in outlook for Vicki Hope, 56, of Boring, who underwent spinal repair surgery on Nov. 28, 2016 at OHSU to correct a rare condition known as dropped head syndrome. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)