A new lease on life: How advanced spine surgery helped David Young get back to living
In 2025, David Young was diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis, a debilitating condition that affects more than 103 million people worldwide. Spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces within the spine narrow, often placing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
For many patients, spinal stenosis brings chronic pain, numbness, weakness, and limited mobility that can significantly diminish a quality of life.
For David, he knew something had to change.
After careful consideration and conversations with his healthcare team, David and his wife, Sylvia, connected with board-certified and fellowship-trained spinal surgeon Dr. Michael S. Shen at HCA HealthONE Spine Specialists. Known for his experience in complex spine conditions using advanced surgical techniques, Dr. Shen proved to be an excellent resource for David.
Dr. Shen decided that David’s condition required an extensive two-level spinal procedure to remedy the stenosis and relieve the pressure. Using bone grafts and instruments, the procedure helps mold the three vertebrae in the back, creating one cohesive, stable unit. The dedicated surgical team immediately got to work, utilizing robot-assisted minimally invasive techniques to help stabilize the spine.
Just three days after surgery, David experienced something many patients hope for but don’t always achieve so quickly: the pain and discomfort had vanished.
“Dr. Shen’s bedside manner, clarity of communication, and surgical competence are top-notch,” says Sylvia. “All of the pain from the stenosis is gone.”
Faced with a newfound lease on life, David looks forward to returning to his normal daily activities — pain free. However, what makes this situation particularly powerful is the irony of who was standing beside David throughout this experience - his wife, Sylvia.
For over 10 years, Sylvia served as President and CEO of HCA HealthONE’s Continental Division, retiring in 2022. Sylvia understands hospital operations. She understands quality metrics. She understands what it takes to build high-performing surgical programs and strong nursing cultures.
And this time, Sylvia experienced it not as an executive but as a patient’s family member. That full-circle moment was not lost on her.
“We selected HCA HealthONE Rose because of the superior, sustained clinical outcomes and nursing care,” she says. When someone who recently led the organization chooses to return as a patient — and entrusts her husband’s spine surgery to the team — it speaks volumes.
Now pain-free and moving with confidence again, David is ready to return to the adventures he and Sylvia cherish most.
“Thank you to HCA HealthONE Rose for getting David back on the international travel circuit with me,” Sylvia says.
Spine care in Denver
HCA HealthONE Rose is nationally recognized as a center of excellence, awarded by Healthgrades as America’s top 10% hospitals for surgical care and the only hospital in Colorado to earn an "A" safety grade by Leapfrog every year since the program's inception.
At HCA HealthONE, our spine specialists treat a full spectrum of conditions. We provide effective treatments, including advanced minimally invasive spine surgery that help minimize your pain, restore your mobility, and increase your independence. We offer nonsurgical care, minimally invasive procedures, and rehabilitative services designed to minimize your pain and restore your quality of life. Learn more and find a doctor.