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At 70, Len Porcelli is living proof that the right surgical care can restore not just mobility, but the joy of an active life. The retired New Jersey administrator recently sent photos to Dr. Roger Härtl, his neurosurgeon, showing his latest fishing catches. For Len, these fishing trips represent far more than a hobby; they symbolize a remarkable journey back from debilitating spinal conditions that once threatened his independence.
Today, Len loads his boat onto his pickup truck using bi-fold ramps, navigates reservoirs, and exercises daily in his basement gym surrounded by decades-old fishing rods. But just a few years ago, he could barely lift his arms to shoulder height or manage daily tasks on his own.
Originally from Hoboken, New Jersey, Len has always been active. After college in Oklahoma, he returned to New Jersey where he worked for Hudson County as an administrator in the food stamps program until retiring in 2015. Throughout those years, he maintained an impressive athletic resume: high school baseball umpire, basketball official, and marathon runner.
"I ran 12 marathons," Len recalls. "Boston was my final one in 2003. That was on my bucket list.”
But even during his peak athletic years, back problems lurked. "I always had back issues. I wore back braces, especially when I was an umpire. I used to seek chiropractors who would help me get back on the field."
The problems escalated significantly after his Boston Marathon triumph. By 2006, Len's condition had become dire. "It was horrible. I was walking tiny steps. Afraid to cross the street, I struggled to step off the curb. I would get this stabbing feeling while walking."
A neurologist explained that his L-1 vertebra had fallen into the spinal canal, creating dangerous compression. The neurologist referred him to Dr. Roger Härtl at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center for what would become the first of several life-changing surgeries.
Dr. Härtl immediately made an impression. "Personable, knowledgeable, humble," Len describes. "Just from my rapport with him, I knew he was going to help me. "
Dr. Härtl performed Len's first lumbar surgery in 2006, with remarkable results. "When I had that surgery, his team came in the next day, got me out of bed, and I was walking around. It was a great thing. It's so amazing to see that I could do that."
Len's spinal issues required ongoing expert care for more than a decade. In 2015, he began experiencing balance issues, leading to a second surgery with Dr. Härtl, an anterior cervical procedure that again provided excellent results.
By 2019, Len’s upper body mobility was severely compromised. "I could barely lift my arms. Taking a shower was not an easy thing. I couldn't put on a coat or lift my arms to my shoulders, due to my back pain."
At that time, he was referred to Dr. Michael Virk, also a surgeon at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Virk performed a complex C2-T2 posterior cervical laminectomy with fusion. While this surgery required a longer recovery and was complicated by a wound infection requiring additional surgery, the results were ultimately life-changing.
"Like night and day," Len says of the transformation. "I told Dr. Virk, I didn't think I was going to be around. I thought I was going towards a spiraling path. I could feel it in my body. He saved my life."
Throughout his journey, Len was consistently impressed by the coordinated care at Weill Cornell Medicine. "The team is unbelievable," he emphasizes. "Both of them were exceptional in coming to see me after surgery in the hospital. That meant a lot. To see the doctor come in and take time to stand there and ask me how I am doing. It was inspiring and helpful."
The operating room experience particularly stood out: "When they took me into the operating room, the team was amazing."
The recovery process taught Len important lessons about persistence and goal setting. Hospital staff prepared him for independent living, even helping him practice stair climbing at the hospital since his bathroom was on the second floor of his home.
Dr. Härtl's advice became a guiding principle: "The main thing that Härtl told me after my first surgery with him was that I asked him what I shouldn't or should do. He said just go out and live your life. I'll never forget that, and it stuck with me ‘til this day."
Len returns to his childhood passion of fishing.
Today, Len maintains an active lifestyle that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. He exercises daily on an elliptical trainer and a cross-country ski machine in his basement gym. But perhaps most meaningful is his return to fishing, a passion that dates back to his grammar school days.
"I've always loved fishing," he says. In September 2024, he obtained a permit to fish in the Newark watershed reservoirs and eventually purchased his jon boat.
His recent fishing successes, proudly documented in photos sent to Dr. Härtl, represent not only a recreational achievement but also a symbol of restored independence and joy in life.
Len's advice to others facing spine surgery comes from extensive experience: "Think about where you're at and make sure you check out all your options" He emphasizes the importance of exhausting non-surgical treatments first, such as chiropractors, epidurals, and physical therapy.
"If you've done what you had to do, and if you do not see any improvement or relief on the horizon, then you need to find a doctor that you can develop a rapport with who is knowledgeable. Do your research on them, whether online or by asking other people whom they have treated."
He stresses the importance of the surgical team and facility: "The hospital and the doctor are important. Nothing is guaranteed. You have to make that decision. It's not an easy one."
For post-surgery success, Len emphasizes commitment to recovery: "Be ready to go to therapy. Move around. Try to get up to an hour a day of walking. Set goals for your post-surgery. Stay focused and positive."
Despite being a self-described private person, Len chose to share his story as a gesture of gratitude. "I normally would not do this. But I like Dr. Härtl and Dr. Virk. They've done so much for me, and I owe them a great deal. This is something small that I could do."
He maintains regular contact with both surgeons, sending Christmas cards and updates. "In the beginning I would give him updates and it's been almost 10 years of staying in touch. This last year, I started telling him about getting back into fishing."
His gratitude extends beyond the surgical outcomes to the human connection: "I am eternally grateful for those two guys. I hoped for the best, I knew I saw the best, and fortunately it worked out well for me. Through the grace of God and through the doctors, I got through all of this."
Len's experience emphasizes the value of seeking care from Weill Cornell Medicine surgeons at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian. A rheumatologist he saw early in his journey made a lasting impression: "He looked at my spine and said, ‘I can't believe this.’ He said if I do anything with surgery, he said I would only go with Weill Cornell. That always stuck in my mind."
Today, whether he's exercising in his basement gym, tending his garden, or casting a line with a vintage lure, Len embodies the possibility of reclaiming an active, fulfilling life through expert spinal care from Weill Cornell Medicine doctors at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian. With the right surgical team, comprehensive treatment and dedication to recovery, even complex spinal conditions can be overcome.
"I feel fortunate that I can exercise and fish, and take care of my house and garden," Len reflects. For someone who once faced the possibility of losing his independence entirely, these simple activities represent nothing short of a miracle, one made possible by the skilled hands and compassionate care of his neurosurgical team at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Dr. Roger Härtl is the Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery and Director of Neurosurgery Spine at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Michael Virk specializes in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. Both physicians are part of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian.
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