08/22/2025
For years, chronic back pain controlled Audrey Gammie’s life. She relied on oxygen to breathe, used a walker to move just a few feet and took daily pain medications that left her drowsy and unable to drive.
“I couldn’t think, I couldn’t do anything. My life was no life,” Audrey said. “My quality of life was zero.”
Last year, she made the brave decision to undergo a second back fusion surgery at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. Determined not to return to pain medication, Audrey leaned into physical therapy and her own resilience. Step by step, she regained her strength.
Soon, her therapists couldn’t keep up. She walked laps around the hospital, racking up 10,000 steps a day, just days after surgery. Today, Audrey walks more than 15,000 steps daily with her dog, Bella, enjoys sewing projects for friends and family and has reclaimed her independence.
“The fact that she has fought for her health is huge,” said her orthopedic surgeon, Dr. C.J. Kleck. “She’s got a big heart, and I love how she has put in the effort and taken the lead in her recovery.”
Now, Audrey shares her story to inspire others living with pain: “Don’t give up. Look at me. If I can do it, others can too.”
Audrey's recovery from a second back fusion surgery amazed her doctors and transformed her life after years of chronic, debilitating pain.