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Buffalo Doctor operates on veteran for free through Operation Backbone

Posted at 6:51 PM, Oct 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-16 18:51:12-04

It was an extremely emotional afternoon for a U.S. Army veteran from Virginia after he received life-saving spinal surgery free of charge.

The surgery took place at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.

Kurt Santini was injured 18-years-ago on duty when his parachute didn't deploy during a mission. He fell more than 100 feet to the ground, and has lived in pain ever since.

Thanks to veterans organization Operation Backbone and local spine doctor, Dr. Franco Vigna, Santini is now pain free.

Operation Backbone takes veterans in need of care out of the VA system and into the private sector, to get help quicker on traumatic issues like spine and brain injuries.