Jason Schroyer has only two goals in mind these days: to climb back into the driver's seat of his ambulance and to be out of the hospital in time to catch the USC Gamecocks' first home football game.
After fearing he would have to learn to live with Scheuermann's Disease - a skeletal deformity that causes the vertebrae to grow more like trapezoids than rectangles and eventually caused the spine to be curve unevenly - and after enduring nearly a decade of pain, technology may be coming to the rescue for this Hampton County rescuer.
According to doctors at the Medical University of South Carolina, Schroyer will be the first patient in the Palmetto State to receive a novel form of back surgery dubbed the "Nintendo" surgery.
"I've been fighting this for eight years, and it was depressing," said Schroyer, a 21-year-old EMT. "I've dealt with pain on a regular basis, with no narcotics because of my job. I knew I had to do something."
The pain caused by his abnormally curved spine grew more intense over the years until Schroyer began feeling numbness in his legs, a problem that he feared would prohibit him from continuing his career and passion as an EMT and volunteer firefighter in Hampton and Allendale counties. According to family, Schroyer has been out of work for several weeks because of his condition.
Doctors at MUSC told Schroyer that he was an ideal candidate for this new minimally invasive endoscopic surgery
In a two-part surgical process, doctors will use tiny video equipment to repair Schroyer's vertebrae. The first surgery, which was performed Monday, required doctors to cut tiny holes in Schroyer's side to insert a camera, light, and instruments. During this "Nintendo" surgery, surgeons guide their instruments while viewing and guiding them on a television screen.
During the second operation, scheduled for Friday, doctors will straighten Schroyer's vertebrae and add metal rods and titanium plates for support.
The standard procedure for such back problems is much more invasive and risky, and involves cutting open the abdomen and pushing aside the heart and lungs to reach the spine.
Schroyer was recovering nicely in intensive care Tuesday, with his twin and longtime roommate, Catlin, by his side.
"It's going great, the surgery went fabulous, really, really well," Schroyer said. "Everything went perfectly. I've got a chest tube on the right side of my chest, under my arm pit, and I've got IVs everywhere. I was up and walking the same day, carrying my chest tube around. It's pretty cool."
Schroyer will receive the second round of the procedure Friday, which is more extensive and expected to take eight to 12 hours. After this surgery he is expected to recover in the hospital for two weeks, then return home - with no driving - for another two weeks.
"I'll be out of work two to four months, but they are allowing me to come back to EMS," he said happily.
And his recovery had better be on schedule or else, because this devout Gamecocks fan is ready for the first Carolina game on Sept. 2 against Southern Mississippi.
"Go Gamecocks, I'm ready," he said.
While Schroyer was enduring his stay at MUSC, family and friends filled the waiting room awaiting news of his recovery. Dozens upon dozens of Facebook friends posted words of encouragement and spread the news when he came out of the operating room.
"He is getting hundreds and hundreds of emails and phone calls," said his aunt, Anita Getridge. "The support has been just amazing. He has really felt the prayers going up."
"If it weren't for my family and friends, I wouldn't have made it through this," said Schroyer. "There's no way I'd make it through. Thank you all."
Schroyer is the son of Jake and Connie Schroyer of Varnville and Wanda and Ed Walker of Pondtown.
Getridge is very proud of her nephew.
"He's the best type of kid you could want," she added. "He's just that type of kid."