OhioHealth Patient Shares Story of Hope and Gratitude
In a heartfelt testament to resilience and the compassionate care she received, Sarah Bieber shares her transformative journey from chronic pain to newfound freedom. Her story serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges.
Lancaster, Ohio, native Sarah Bieber grew up active and athletic, but frequent ankle sprains in high school culminated in a major injury before senior year. She tore the ligaments in the outer right side of her right ankle. She underwent surgery in 2017 with another health system, but the pain persisted. “Every day after that, it was pain all the time, things felt way too tight in there,” she said.
She pushed through the pain throughout her senior year of high school but knew something wasn’t right. “I made it through senior year and into college, but I was constantly afraid to do anything super active because I knew I’d pay for it later with sharp pains, burning sensations, and limited flexibility,” Bieber said.
The pain was debilitating and left her feeling discouraged often.
“I can’t walk like this forever, and be afraid to do things forever,” Bieber said. “I want to go hiking with my friends and in the future if I have kids, I want to be able to chase them around.”
To reclaim her life, in 2019, she sought help from OhioHealth. Brian Steginsky, DO, an orthopedic surgeon at OhioHealth, who provided Bieber with the guidance and expertise she needed, performing a joint fusion surgery in April 2024 that changed her life.
Dr. Steginsky diagnosed her with arthritis in the joint and explained that it would likely get worse over time. Bieber shared that she was presented with two options: surgery or cortisone shots. She chose to try the shots first, which provided some relief and delayed the need for surgery, but ultimately didn’t resolve the underlying issue.
Dr. Steginsky performed a joint fusion by inserting screws through Bieber’s heel, promoting bone healing and restoring mobility. Bieber is one of the youngest patients Dr. Steginsky has performed a joint fusion on.
The initial weeks after surgery were some of the hardest for Bieber: “The first couple weeks were really, really intense, I have never experienced pain like that before. It totally made sense because I just had screws put into my bones.” Recovery meant Sarah couldn’t put any weight on her ankle until August. She relied on crutches, a knee scooter, and had to temporarily give up driving.
Bieber’s post-surgery period also involved regular hospital visits for check-ups and mobility exercises. Bieber credits not only the OhioHealth care team, but her supportive family and friends, who were by her side throughout her recovery, ensuring she never faced her journey alone. She gradually regained her mobility and independence.
Today, Sarah lives in Montana, embracing life with a renewed spirit.
“Because of Dr. Steginsky and the entire OhioHealth team, I now live without the constant fear of pain, and I am able to pursue my passions and enjoy new adventures,” Bieber expressed with gratitude. “It really felt like they were on my side.”
She works in marketing for an aerial firefighting company and frequently travels for her job, activities she once thought impossible due to her condition.
“I feel better than I have in a very long time,” Bieber said. “Sometimes I think about it; before I would think about my ankle every day so negatively about it, but now I can forget about my ankle which is a big deal for me. It took up so much of my life.”
Her story reflects not only personal triumph, but also the profound impact of dedicated healthcare professionals. OhioHealth is honored to have played a role in Sarah's journey and remains committed to transforming lives through compassionate care.
