"I Thought I Wouldn't Walk Again": Sheng's Journey Back to Independence
07.02.2026
For months, Sheng watched her independence slowly slip away. Walking became difficult. Then it became nearly impossible.
"I was mostly crawling," she said. "It was hurting so bad."
Looking back, Sheng says her symptoms first appeared shortly after her honeymoon in August 2024. That's when she originally noticed weakness in her legs.
At first, she tried to ignore the pain and discomfort. But over the next few months, the pain became unbearable. By Halloween, she was struggling to get around on her own. Thankfully, she had her husband Bobby there to support her.
"I was stiff. I couldn't move my legs," Sheng said. "I was holding onto the wall or anything that I could stand myself up with."
Sheng was born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and severe kyphoscoliosis. With this condition, she had dealt with physical challenges throughout her life; however, this felt different, and it worried her. The weakness continued to get worse until walking became nearly impossible. As her mobility declined, so did her independence.
"I felt like I was going to give up," Sheng said.
A Breaking Point and a Turning Point
After seeking medical care, Sheng was referred to neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Bohl and the SpineFirst team, a collaborative partnership between Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates and Atrium Health.
By the time she arrived for evaluation, everyday life looked very different than it had just a few months earlier. Walking was difficult. Simple tasks required help. She knew something had to change.
Following additional evaluation, Dr. Bohl recommended surgery.
In May 2025, she underwent surgery with Dr. Bohl at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center.
The procedure focused on her lower back and included placing rods in her spine. It was a tough decision for Sheng and her family; however, they hoped that the procedure would give her a chance to live her life again, a chance to regain the mobility that she had lost for far too long.
Recovery
Following surgery, Sheng spent two weeks in the hospital before transferring to inpatient rehabilitation. She then continued physical and occupational therapy after returning home. Her husband, Bobby, says the care team played an important role throughout the process.
"They've really been working on trying to make her independent," he said.
Because of Sheng's stature, therapists often had to find creative solutions for equipment and rehabilitation exercises. Finding the right walker, wheelchair, and other tools required patience and teamwork.
"There were a lot of challenges," Bobby said.
Despite those challenges, Sheng says she always felt supported.
One Step at a Time
The recovery process included setbacks. After returning home, Sheng had to be hospitalized again after a suspected infection. Fortunately, the infection was discovered early and treated successfully. Still, she continued moving forward.
Then came a moment she will never forget. On January 8, during a home physical therapy session, her therapist brought her a walker.
"I told them, 'I'm going to walk,'" Sheng said.
For months, she had wondered if she would ever be able to say those words.
"I thought I was going to be stuck in this wheelchair," she said. "I thought I wouldn't be able to walk anymore."
But that day, she stood up and took her first steps.
"When I walked, I started crying."
Her husband and mother stood nearby watching.
"They cried with me," Sheng said.
It was a moment that reminded her just how far she had come.
Life After Surgery
Today, Sheng continues working through physical therapy and building strength. Recovery remains a work in progress, but she is proud of the progress she has made. The things that once felt impossible are becoming possible again. Today, Sheng is still participating in therapy and continuing her recovery.
After everything she has been through, being able to stand and walk again is something she once wasn't sure would be possible. Most importantly, she has regained hope. There was a time when she worried she might spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. Today, she is focused on what comes next rather than what she has lost.
A Message to Others
Looking back, Sheng hopes other families facing similar challenges learn from her experience. She especially hopes to encourage other people living with achondroplasia who may be facing obstacles of their own.
My favorite words are, 'Be Little, Live Big, and Dream Big,'" Sheng said.
She wants others to know that difficult seasons do not last forever.
"I want to inspire all the little people," she said. "Don't give up. Have faith. Be strong and be patient with yourself."
For Sheng, recovery has been a long journey filled with challenges, setbacks, and victories.
Each step she takes today reminds her of how far she has come. And after everything she has been through, that is something she will never take for granted.
"It takes one step at a time," she said.
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