Patient Story Type: Scoliosis

For most people, a scoliosis diagnosis sets off a clear chain of events: imaging, specialist consultations, a treatment plan. For Andrea Pendarvis, that chain was broken before it ever began. What should have been a straightforward path to care turned into an 8.5 month ordeal as insurance complications blocked her from receiving even the most basic first step, an MRI.

Without that scan, everything else was on hold. And while the paperwork piled up and appeals went unanswered, Andrea’s scoliosis continued to progress, untreated.

It was at this point that Dr. Anthony Scaduto, President and CEO of LuskinOIC, stepped in personally.

Dr. Scaduto didn’t simply refer Andrea’s case to a patient advocate or escalate it through standard channels. He took it on himself, fighting directly with the insurance company to secure both the MRI authorization and approval for the surgeries Andrea needed. His intervention wasn’t just administrative. It was a statement about what patient care should look like, and what physicians have an obligation to do when the system fails the people it’s supposed to serve.

The battle wasn’t quick or easy, but Dr. Scaduto’s persistence paid off. Authorization was granted. The MRI was completed. And Andrea was finally cleared for surgery.

Andrea recently underwent her spinal surgeries, and she is doing well.

For Andrea, those words represent the end of nearly a year of uncertainty, pain, and frustration. For the team at LuskinOIC, they are a reminder of why the fight mattered.

Stories like Andrea’s are far too common. Patients with clear medical needs find themselves caught in cycles of denials, appeals, and delays that have nothing to do with the quality of care available to them and everything to do with the barriers placed between them and that care. The consequences, worsening conditions, increased complexity of treatment, and immeasurable emotional toll, are real and lasting.

At LuskinOIC, the mission is to ensure that every child and patient who walks through their doors receives the care they need, regardless of what stands in the way. Dr. Scaduto’s decision to personally champion Andrea’s case reflects that commitment. It is a model of what advocacy looks like at the highest level of leadership, not just treating patients, but fighting for them.

At just 17 months old, Kosta was diagnosed with progressive infantile scoliosis—a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that causes the spine to curve aggressively during early childhood. “When we learned of Kosta’s curving spine, we were terrified,” recall Sarah and Andrej Jonovic, Kosta’s parents. “Nothing prepares you for hearing that your baby has a condition that could be fatal if left untreated.” With determination and love leading the way, the Jonovic family knew they would go to any length to find the best care possible for their son.

That commitment took them more than 5,000 miles from their home in London to Los Angeles, where Kosta began treatment at Orthopaedic Institute for Children (OIC) under the care of Dr. Anthony Scaduto. Although Dr. Scaduto is a surgeon, he recommended a non-surgical approach known as Mehta casting—a series of gentle body casts designed to guide spinal growth and gradually correct the curve. “Though a surgeon, Dr. Scaduto recommended a non-invasive Mehta casting approach,” the Jonovics shared. “We were so grateful to have found a doctor who prioritized the safest and most effective treatment for our son.”

Now, four years later, Kosta’s results speak volumes. “We are thrilled to report that only a minor curve remains in Kosta’s spine, with the promise of additional improvement as he continues to grow,” Sarah and Andrej say. “Our son will stand tall for life thanks to OIC and Dr. Scaduto. This means everything to us.” Kosta’s story is not just one of medical success, but of courage, hope, and the extraordinary power of compassionate care.