12 Hours of Surgery. A Lifetime of Strength.

At 41 years old, Lisa Marsh’s life changed in an instant when a devastating motorcycle accident left her with a shattered T9 vertebra and an uncertain future. After a complex 12-hour surgery to reconstruct and stabilize her spine, Lisa faced months in a brace, nearly a year away from work, and the difficult process of rebuilding her independence.But recovery was only the beginning.In this episode of Get Back to It, Dr. Rita Roy sits down with Lisa to talk about the accident that changed her life, the challenges of spine surgery and recovery, and the unexpected transformation that followed. Once someone who never considered herself an athlete, Lisa went on to complete a half marathon, multiple road and obstacle races, a Tough Mudder, and years of CrossFit training and competitions.More than two decades later, Lisa faced another chapter in her spine journey when the hardware from her original surgery began causing problems, leading to another operation. Once again, she found her way back.Lisa shares what she has learned about resilience, staying active, adapting as your body changes, leaning on the people who support you, and appreciating the ability to move. Her story is a powerful reminder that recovery doesn’t always mean returning to who you were before—it can mean discovering just how strong you can become.Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/Support the show