Luci's Story
Luciana is the author of Rise Above: A Teen’s Guide to Limb Lengthening Surgery: Physical and Mental Tips for a Healthy and Happy Journey. Luciana underwent limb lengthening surgery at 15 years old to address a congenital discrepancy in leg length. She now stands straight with both feet planted on the ground with the courage and confidence to help others. Inspired by her journey and love for psychology, she wrote a pre/post surgical guide to support teens undergoing treatment for this congenital condition and offering hope and guidance. Luciana is passionate about psychology and animal welfare. She lives in the Miami area with her family, dogs Layla and Cassidy, and cat Cosmic Charlie.
Welcome to Rise Above
The Rise Above guide is a comprehensive handbook for teenagers who are undergoing a limb lengthening procedure. This website provides the information needed to understand the procedure, prepare for it, and navigate through the recovery period. I provide my first hand, real-life experience through the procedure. My goal is to help teenagers and their families rise above the challenges of limb lengthening and emerge stronger and more confident than ever before.
Triumph Over Adversity
After the Nicklaus Children's Hospital Orthopedics Institute began using my Rise Above guide with their limb-lengthening patients, the hospital asked me to share my story on video. This 6-minute video details my health journey through various congenital issues and the development of my Rise Above guide. It was featured as the Inspiring Story on the hospital website in September 2024 and remains on their YouTube Channel. The video aims to inspire others, ignite hope, create awareness for congenital limb discrepancies, and raise funds for the hospital.
My New Ad for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Orthopedic, Sports Medicine & Spine Institute
The Balancing Act with
Montell Willimas!
I was honored to be on the Lifetime Channel's morning show, The Balancing Act with Montell Williams, for the feature "Behind the Scenes: Championing a Child's and Family's Journey From Diagnosis Through Treatment." I share my story, my guide, and this website! It's bookmarked at my segment but the whole episode is awesome if you scroll from the beginning!
