Bindi's Story

Hello! I’m honored that Ms. BreAnna has asked me to share my story. I am also grateful that I was nominated and chosen as this year’s Ohio Dance Masters Charity Outreach Recipient. I have been dancing here at CCA ever since it opened 12 years ago. Throughout my dance journey I've faced numerous changes and obstacles that have shaped my passion and resilience.

When I was 5 I was transported by life flight to children’s hospital Pittsburgh due to difficulty breathing. I was treated for pneumonia, diagnosed with asthma, and spent five days in the hospital. It was at this time when the doctors noticed that I had a chest wall deformity called Pectus Excavatum.

When I was 12 one of my specialists recommended that I be seen by a thoracic surgeon and cardiologist due to the severity of my condition. They found that my heart was being compressed, which was no surprise to my mother who had mentioned one day that she could feel my heart beating on the side of my ribcage. Finding out that the Nuss procedure is known as one of the most painful childhood surgeries during the recovery period, we were hesitant to go through with it. After much prayer God led us to find a leading doctor at Cleveland Clinic who specialized in the Nuss procedure. We decided to go through with the surgery in August 2021.

The Nuss procedure took about 4 hours and involved placing two 12 inch titanium bars across my chest to correct my sternum. After the surgery I was not allowed to dance at all for four months. I still attended every one of my classes and watched from the side. It was at that time that I realized how important dance was to me and that I was determined to work hard and be the best dancer I could be. After that I slowly began to regain my strength and flexibility. My recovery went extremely well and within six months I was back to dancing 100%.

Going into the Nuss procedure I was told that there would have to be a follow up surgery three years following the first. This surgery would involve removing the bars and stabilizers that were placed during the first operation. As you all know, time flies! This summer marked the three year anniversary of my first surgery so it was time for the follow up surgery. This surgery was much easier than the first and I even attended summer conditioning just three days after. Ms. Janet even reluctantly agreed to let me do some stretching with the group. I was back to dancing full out when classes started up at the beginning of this dance season just 3 weeks after the surgery.

Facing those surgeries I knew that I would be able to feel like myself again and maybe even better afterwards. Three years ago I had no idea that there would be something even more life changing coming. I’ve known that I also had scoliosis from age 10 but it was mild and did not require a brace. After my Nuss procedure my x-rays began to show that the curves of my spine were rapidly increasing. The last thing I wanted to hear was that I needed another major surgery. After seeing three doctors it was clear that my only option was to have spinal fusion. I waited a year, but the curvature had reached 60 degrees, which is 20 more than the recommended surgical range. In July of 2023 I had the six-hour surgery, where they permanently placed 20 screws and 2 rods in my spine.

My spinal fusion was extremely traumatic physically, mentally, and emotionally. At that point I realized that I was facing something that I was unsure if I could handle. Every day of the six months I was unable to dance my determination grew more and more. However, that determination was short-lived. When my restrictions were lifted and I started back to dance I realized I could no longer do many of the things I could do before. I began to lose hope and started to think that I’d never dance the same again. Ever since I was very young I wanted to pursue a career in dance. I began to doubt if that would even be a possibility. I realized how much I truly needed the encouragement of my friends, family, and teachers. It took a while to accept that it was going to take time and diligence to live up to my own expectations.

Overcoming scoliosis was the toughest challenge I have ever faced. Throughout the course of my recovery I’ve learned so much about myself and most importantly that even when you don’t feel seen by others, you have to remember why you are a dancer. I am so grateful that Ms. BreAnna and Ms. Janet nominated me for the ODM Charity Outreach program. Being the Representative for the 2025 charity Setting Scoliosis Straight has been such a great experience. I am so honored that I get to share my story and help others going through similar challenges.

Setting Scoliosis Straight is a non-profit charity dedicated to helping inform families of those who have been affected by scoliosis. They also are researching possible new treatment options for scoliosis patients. I really wish that I would have had more options while deciding the best way to treat my condition. My hope is that in the future there are more alternatives to surgery for children facing severe scoliosis.

Setting Scoliosis Straight also hosts a variety of events such as webinars, and support groups. They also focus on physical training and education for doctors. They ultimately want to improve the lives of those living with scoliosis. Thank you in advance for your support. In closing, I would like to thank my dance teachers for never giving up on me, my amazing family for being by my side through every single challenge, and of course the seniors. I could never have found more supportive and amazing best friends.

So, if you end up getting anything from my story, I hope it is that life’s challenges shape us into who we are and no matter how hard it gets, never give up.

Learn how Clarion Center for the Arts is supporting Bindi and the Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation at the blog post below!

Celebrating Bindi Weiland: Charity Outreach Recipient for Ohio Dance Masters