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On the surface, Ruthie Walling is your typical teenager. If you look a little closer you'll see a girl who's been through more in her 15 years than most people go through in a lifetime. 

Ruthie was born with a congenital heart defect, and she went through multiple surgeries and was given a pacemaker when she was just a baby.

Another physical hurdle Ruthie's had to overcome is an 89% curvature in her spine, which became unbearable by the time she was 14 years old.

Last year, Ruthie and her family made the incredibly difficult decision to move forward with a surgery that would straighten her spine. It took some convincing to find a group of doctors to take her very rare and complicated case, but they found their dream team of cardiologists and orthopedic surgons at the University of Cincinnati. Thanks to this incredible group of medical professionals, Ruthie came out of her surgery a few inches taller and with more confidence than ever.

I love Ruthie and the entire Walling family, and she's living proof that true badasses come in all shapes and sizes!