Back in the Game: Donna Alderton's Spine Surgery Comeback

October 2025

 
In September 2024, Donna Alderton was tormented by debilitating pain. It began in her neck, radiating down her back and spread to her left arm. She tried to mask the pain with over-the-counter medication, but it continued to worsen over time. Eventually, her once vibrant and active lifestyle ceased to exist.

Today, that's changed thanks to doctors at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH). She's gotten her life back, and she celebrated her comeback by throwing out the first pitch at a Seattle Mariners baseball game. It's a feat she wouldn't have imagined was possible a year ago.

Donna happens to work as a VMFH Interventional Radiology Technologist in Seattle. She assists physicians with minimally-invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases. Her own health journey began where she spends most of her days–with an MRI. When the results came back, she got answers to why she was experiencing pain. She had a herniated cervical disc pressing against her nerves and was referred for an appointment with Philip Louie, MD, a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon.

She remembers Dr. Louie saying, “If it were me or my family member, I would recommend having surgery.”

Dr. Louie’s approach to patient care is grounded in making decisions together. “My role is not only to provide the safest and most effective surgical or non-surgical options, but also to ensure patients understand their choices so that together we can arrive at the right path forward,” he said.

The thought of surgery made Donna nervous, but she knew she would be in good hands. Dr. Louie took the time to discuss options with her, and he encouraged her to take time to think about it. "I had extra trust with him because he works with physicians I work with," she explained, highlighting their unique professional bond.

A few weeks later, she underwent cervical disc replacement surgery. “As soon as I woke up from surgery, I noticed that the arm pain was gone,” she said. Donna could also lay down flat again which was not tolerated prior to the surgery.

She was eager to get back to her active lifestyle but knew she needed to take things slow–no lifting, pulling, or reaching overhead. During recovery, she walked everyday, sometimes as far as eight miles.

Donna says Dr. Louie encouraged her to live her life post recovery, so that’s exactly what she did.

Donna celebrated her 50th birthday this past summer. She packed her summer with outdoor activities, including summiting Mount Baker, Mount St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and going on several significant bikepacking trips.

When Dr. Louie called Donna to ask if she was interested in throwing out the first pitch at a Mariners game, she excitedly said yes!

“I’ve been able to truly go back to the active lifestyle that I had at work and in life. This is the cherry on top to be able to throw out the first pitch alongside the physician and team who got me to where I am today,” she shared.

 
The game coincided with the culmination of the Mariners “Run for Research” initiative where the Mariners Care Foundation donates funds to support research and patient care at the Center for Neurosciences & Spine at VMFH for every run scored during the season.

A check totalling $17,410 was presented to the team after Donna’s big pitch.

Dr. Louie says the event is a special reminder of why the team does the work that they do.

“To witness a patient go from surgery to standing on the mound at T-Mobile Park was a powerful and humbling moment,” he said. “It shows the impact of combining cutting-edge care, strong partnerships, and dedicated research on the lives of the people we serve.”

VMFH's Center for Neurosciences & Spine is a leading provider of neurological and spine care across the Puget Sound, with a dedicated team specializing in everything from rare and complex disorders to common issues like back pain and headaches. Beyond the clinic and OR, VMFH has a thriving research and academic program to drive meaningful change in patient care.