Nashville Artist Has Her Life Back
Lisa Aronow describes herself as a metalsmith, a jewelry designer, a biker (vintage Raleighs) and a wannabe bon vivant. She is filled with spirit and passion, and many of her customers say her jewelry represents that spirit. Lisa has been designing jewelry in Nashville for more than 12 years. She says her high-karat gold and sterling silver pieces are wearable, every day pieces, with a vintage or estate look.
"Women wear my pieces with everything from shorts and t-shirts to formal gowns; you shouldn't need a special occasion to enjoy your jewelry."
Lisa says she comes by her talent naturally; she spent much of her childhood working at her father's jewelry store and learning about antiques and estate jewelry from her mother. Her parents still live in Augusta, Georgia, where Lisa grew up.
Today, Lisa is running from appointment to appointment, and getting ready for a new collection to launch. She is busy, but says she feels like a "freakin' rock star."
That wasn't the case a few years ago. Lisa's active lifestyle caught up with her after three years of debilitating back pain. "I used to snow ski a lot, and I had a bad fall. I also fell down steps moving into my first place in Nashville." It was a series of accidents like these that led the 43-year-old to Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance.
"I suffered constant back and leg pain for more than two years. I couldn't even get up. When you have that kind of severe pain, it can become very debilitating both mentally and physically, especially if you are used to going and doing lots of things. It was the most unbearable thing I ever experienced in my life."
Lisa says she waited too long to address her back issues. "I had so much damage; it took me a while to come around to the fact of what I really needed. I had other surgeries, I did acupuncture, massage therapy, but nothing ever worked."
That's when Lisa's quest to find a surgeon began. "It didn't matter to me if he was local, or in New York. I just wanted to find the best spine surgeon I could find. I had so much nerve damage. I had crushed vertebrae in my back, and it was pressing against the nerve in my spinal column, creating problems from my back down to my toes. I knew that if I waited any longer to correct the damage, I could be dragging my right foot one day. I knew I needed minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery."
Lisa didn't have to look very far to find the best surgeon for her spine issues. "Dr. Juris Shibayama in Murfreesboro is very highly regarded. I chose to see him based on the recommendations from his colleagues. He has an incredible talent.
I spent five hours on the operating table while Dr. Shibayama untangled my nerve. I was actually walking that same afternoon, without the usual pain. It was pretty significant. Shortly after my surgery I remember getting on the treadmill for 45 minutes. It was a huge deal."
Lisa and Dr. Shibayama are still friends. "He is one of the sweetest people you can imagine.
He is so intelligent, warm and compassionate, and has a wonderful sense of humor. I'm crazy about him, he saved my life, in a way. And he's so smart and fun; he even texted me a year after my surgery to say happy anniversary!"
"I gladly share my experience with others. I tell them not to give up. You don't have to live with pain and physical limitations. I thought that for so long, and accepted that. Today, I feel like I have my life back because of the work he did. It's been divine intervention."