Hi my name is Aimee Shoulder I am 20 and growing up with pectus was hard. I would always wear a top or jumper that covered my chest to try and hide it. It wasn’t until I started high school that I realised my chest wasn’t like the other girls especially when we had to get changed for PE lessons, I always found it awkward.   

Over the years my confidence grew. I wouldn’t wear jumpers all the time and began to wear clothes I liked, as my chest wasn’t going to get fixed overnight. I began to get more confident with the help of my family and friends.   I had my pectus surgery on the 12th September 2024. My Haller Index was 19 and my sternum bone had moved too close to my spine, if surgery was not done soon, it could touch my spine which may leave me paralysed. I was told by Joel Dunning my pectus was one of the most severe in the UK.

Growing up I had seen countless doctors who were not sure what could be done to fix my chest, until I met Mr Milton in Leeds. After many appointments and worries that I would never get surgery, he discussed my case with a panel of surgeons in London to see if I was eligible for surgery on the NHS. It had been about a year since I heard anything until one Monday morning, when I was feeling a bit hungover after a night out, I had got a call from Mr Miltons assistant saying I was eligible for surgery. I started crying down the phone not really processing what I was being told. Eventually, after composing myself, I rang my mum to tell her the good news. Later on that day, I had another phone call asking if I would like to have the surgery in Middlesborough rather than London as it was closer to Leeds.    

The first time I spoke with Joel Dunning over zoom was to discuss the surgery options. Joel was shocked to find out that a month before the zoom meeting I had just completed a 5k, and apart from being a bit out of breath and having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, day to day I was doing pretty well even though my Pectus was severe. After the zoom meeting, I had decided I would have the Ravitch procedure as it means I would only need one surgery.  

The day finally came for my surgery. I was worried, but I knew everything would be okay. A few hours passed then I woke up on the ward thinking I was Harry Potter due to the anaesthetic medicines, which made my family laugh. I found the pain hard to cope with and moving hurt. Some of the medicines made me sick so I was taken off some of them until I found what medicines worked for me. The staff at James Cook were really nice and the other patients on the ward would always speak to me throughout the day keeping me company until visiting hours. I was on the ward for about 4 days and was ready to go home when I was told I needed to have a second surgery as my chest had started to collapse again.   

After more tears, I was ready again for my second surgery which was the Nuss procedure as my chest was beginning to collapse again and the Ravitch procedure alone was not enough. Two Nuss bars were used and I woke up again after a few hours back on the ward where my mum was waiting. I was then in the ward for a few days until I was released home. Like the first surgery, I was achy and in pain and felt like I was never going to feel better, I was well enough to go home.   

It’s now been 2 months since my first surgery and I have just completed my first week back at university and I am slowly recovering. I can go for walks by myself outside of the house and see my friends. It has taken me some time to get used to the new shape as this isn’t normal for me, I have been used to my chest having a dip my whole life. I have a bit of pain as my Nuss bar is poking out a bit on my right side, but I am slowly getting used to it being there and it’s nothing serious to worry about. Joel has been amazing with answering any worries I might have and the Pectus Support UK group on Facebook as well where I can see other people are experiencing the same thing as me.