For her entire career, Virginia (Ginny) Stoffel, PhD, OT, FAOTA, has helped people navigate health challenges and return to the activities that give their lives meaning. An occupational therapist, educator, author and former president of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Ginny spent more than 40 years teaching a simple but powerful principle: "Occupational therapy practitioners ask, 'what matters most to you', rather than 'what is the matter with you'."
A few years ago, she found herself facing health concerns of her own. When pain became impossible to ignore, she turned to Aurora Health Care for solutions.
In 2021, sciatic pain began radiating down her left leg. Ginny had been in remarkable health for most of her life and these symptoms were unexpected. At first, she describes it as “more of an annoyance than a disruption” and as someone who lives and breathes rehab and healthy aging, she paid attention but continued her active lifestyle.
Over time, the pain worsened. By late 2025, it had become debilitating. She pursued conservative treatment first, working with physical therapy and interventional pain management. Treatment helped temporarily — but when pain returned again, it began affecting nearly every aspect of her life.
Despite worsening symptoms, Ginny was reluctant to address what she was experiencing. In January, she traveled to Thailand with her husband, where she served as the AOTA delegate to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists — a trip carrying immense personal and professional significance. Thanks to two rounds of spinal injections, she made the journey but had significant discomfort during the 18-hour-long flights and meetings. Once Ginny returned home, she knew she needed help.
She quickly met with neurosurgeon and spine specialist Dr. Kartik Kesavabhotla. Dr. Kesavabhotla, commonly referred to as ‘Dr. K’, specializes in conditions ranging from disc herniations to complex spinal disorders. His expertise has helped expand access to innovative treatments for patients, including endoscopic spinal surgery, within Aurora St. Luke's and South Shore's neuroscience programs.
Ginny, crediting Dr. K for his compassion and unmistakable concern for her health, moved forward with urgent imaging. Scans revealed a herniated disc in the lowest part of her spine.
Although the problem originated in her back, the herniated disc was pressing on a nerve that travels down the leg, causing the severe sciatic pain that had become unbearable. Because of the herniation's location and Ginny's anatomy, Dr. K believed she was an ideal candidate for an endoscopic approach.
Unlike traditional spine surgery, endoscopic spine surgery uses a tiny camera and specialized instruments inserted through a very small incision. The camera is roughly the width of a pen, allowing Dr. K to access the affected area while minimizing disruption to surrounding tissue, often times without drilling the bone or changing the spine.
The procedure is one of the least invasive tools available for certain spine conditions and is becoming increasingly utilized for select patients – and for Ginny, the decision came easily. "I signed permission so quickly, I might have also bought property in swampy parts of Florida!” she joked.
In April, Ginny underwent surgery. She arrived that morning and was back home the same day. The before-and-after was "striking", they agreed. When Dr. K first met her; he recalls a patient who was extraordinarily uncomfortable despite having exhausted nearly every available nonsurgical option. One day after her procedure, Ginny only needed a single prescribed pain medication.
Immediately after, Ginny began increasing her activity level. Three days later, she walked three miles. One week later, she boarded a flight across the country for AOTA's national conference.
Before surgery, sitting on a flight was nearly impossible. Now, she was doing something remarkable with ease. "During the next five days, I walked nearly 15,000 steps each day, around 80,000 total — far beyond my typical output — and without pain," she recalled.
Today, Ginny is swimming again, attending Milwaukee Brewers games, enjoying Summerfest and spending time with family and friends. To her, most importantly, she can once again pick up her 2-year-old granddaughter.
When asked what recovery means to her, her answer reflects the same philosophy she has spent a lifetime teaching: "For me, recovery is the ability to get back the activities that mean the most to me with the people who mean most to me."
"As a healthcare professional, I know that it is a team effort to deliver the highest quality care and it relies on strong communication and commitment. I am happy to say that this is exactly what I experienced under the care of Dr. K and Aurora Health Care," Ginny said.
You can make a difference
Our teams are proudly redefining what's possible in treatment. You can support our trailblazing neurospine care by making a gift today.