To call Tony athletic would be an understatement. He’s made a lifelong promise to himself: to “work out until the day I die." He grew up in the water—swimming and playing water polo at the Division I level, earning placements with the U.S. National Team. Later, he added endurance hiking to his résumé—not casual day trips, but hundreds of miles at a time with a 50–60 pound pack on iconic routes like the Pacific Crest Trail.
Today at 54, he still competes in sprint and distance swimming—his favorite event is the 200 butterfly—and coaches swimming. His active lifestyle served him remarkably well. For decades, he rarely needed medical care and couldn’t remember the last time he’d even had a headache.
That all changed in April 2024. Tony began experiencing back and leg pain. His father, a physical therapist, guided him through conservative treatments—electrical stimulation, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatories—which provided some relief. But a year later, the pain came roaring back and completely upended his world.
He couldn’t walk or sit comfortably. Numbness in his leg led to bowel issues and severely limited his mobility. The only positions that offered relief were lying on his stomach or being in the pool—but even there, he couldn’t do a flip turn or lift himself out of the water without intense pain. His son stopped asking him to join him on hikes, knowing he wouldn’t be able to make it. “That was multiple levels of misery,” Tony says.
Confined mostly to his home, he sank into depression. “I was dark and gray,” he recalls. “I started losing my patience—and then my kindness.” Tony knew he needed medical help—but he was adamant about avoiding a spinal fusion. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student, he consulted colleagues in his program and reached out to contacts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He researched extensively. Though he lives in New Mexico, one practice stood out: Colorado Spine Partners. He was drawn to their depth of experience—surgeons performing hundreds of spine procedures annually, not just dozens. An appointment was available with Dr. Chris Johnson on a day Tony could travel, and he took it.
Though early in his career, Dr. Johnson’s fellowship training and command of the latest research impressed Tony. Just as importantly, Dr. Johnson was a swimmer who understood Tony’s athletic identity and goals. Physician Assistant Edman Fuentes, who had experienced similar back issues himself, provided both expertise and empathy.
In October 2025, Dr. Johnson performed Tony’s S5-S1 microdiscectomy surgery at Porter Adventist Hospital. “I woke up pain- and numbness-free,” Tony recalls. “I wanted to jump out of bed—I was so excited.”
Incredibly, Tony had clinical rotations scheduled for the very next day as part of his master’s program. With Dr. Johnson’s approval—and coordinated support from the surgical team and his family—Tony left the hospital at 6 pm, traveled back to New Mexico, and successfully completed his clinicals the following day.
Today, Tony is back in the water, swimming and treading water, and he can hike again. Movement is no longer something he fears losing—it’s something he is deeply grateful for. “I appreciate every moment now,” he says. “I want to hold onto this feeling and never take it for granted.”
Reflecting on his care, Tony is unequivocal: “Dr. Johnson respected my lifestyle goals. He’s a great communicator—comforting and competent. And his team, including Edman Fuentes, truly listened to me.” Traveling to Denver was worth it, he says. “Their standard of care is much higher than anyone else’s. I set out to find the best spine surgeon—and I found him in Dr. Johnson.”
