Rory O’Connor struggled with degenerative disc disease in his lower back since childhood, living in nearly constant pain for decades — especially during two tours of duty with the Navy Seals.

His Navy SEAL toughness enabled him to handle the ever-increasing pain but his passion for active life couldn’t handle an ever-decreasing range of motion, strength and flexibility. He finally found hope when he heard about Dr. Robert Masson, founder of Masson Spine Institute and medical director for Growing Bolder.

Despite the seriousness of Rory’s condition, Dr. Masson considered him an ideal candidate for extreme recovery. So, he rebuilt Rory’s spine — but that was just the beginning of the journey.