‘Little House on the Prairie’ Star Melissa Gilbert, 59, Underwent Spinal Surgery — Fans Pray for Her Healing

Melissa Gilbert recently took to Instagram to share an intimate glimpse into her recent and fourth spinal surgery, complete with heartfelt images and a detailed update. Included in her post is an explanation about why she needed yet another procedure.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Melissa Gilbert posted her journey through spinal surgery, sharing moments of vulnerability, resilience, and gratitude. Gilbert, known for her iconic role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in “Little House on the Prairie,” has been open about her health struggles, and this latest update was no different.

The beloved actress shared several pictures in the post, beginning with a touching pre-surgery moment, where Gilbert smiled while her sister’s youngest daughter applied makeup on her face.

Donning a loose dress adorned with floral details, white gloves, and a fuchsia scarf elegantly placed around her neck, Gilbert smiled at the camera. A silver tiara-like headband swept her hair from her face, adding a touch of whimsy to the moment.

The following image captured Gilbert in a hospital bed, donned in a hospital gown and a medical hair cover. Despite the daunting circumstances, her spirit was undeniably high—smiling brightly with two thumbs up. Her surgical team, sharing in Gilbert’s positive energy, smiled alongside her.

As the surgery approached, a third photo showed Gilbert still in her hospital bed, ready to be wheeled into the operating room. In a heartwarming gesture of support, the fourth picture displayed a bouquet of white roses from her husband, accompanied by a card tenderly stating, “I Love You My Wife!”

The next photo revealed Gilbert post-operation, standing in her room with both hands raised in a gesture of triumph. Despite the visible bandage on her neck, her positive demeanor was evident, reflecting her resilience and strength.

Gilbert’s following pictures showed reunions filled with emotion, where Gilbert was seen embracing her best friend in front of the Disc Surgery Center and later with her best friend and godson. The final picture was a stark contrast to the earlier images—a post-operation X-ray.

The outpouring of support from Gilbert’s social media followers was immediate and heartfelt, with comments flooding in, offering prayers, love, and wishes for a speedy recovery. Comments like “Wow! Prayers for a speedy recovery!” and “Sending healing prayers” were left by her Instagram followers.

Other touching comments read, “Sending healing prayers,” “Love & prayers!” and “I hope you are pain free in the near future.”

Gilbert’s journey through spinal health issues has been long and arduous, marked by several surgeries and ongoing pain. Starting with her first spinal fusion surgery in the early 2000s due to an injury, Gilbert’s challenges continued with a second spinal surgery after breaking her back in 2010 and a third fusion surgery in 2016.

The third surgery was needed to address two herniated discs from injuries in 2012, including a severe incident involving a collapsing balcony and a concussion after falling on “Dancing with the Stars.”

According to the actress, the health issues she faced came from a “long history” of neck and spine issues, beginning with the first herniated disc fusion surgery.

As time passed, nerve damage from her injuries led to numbness and shooting pains. “I have numbness in my right hand, shooting pains in my right arm, and numbness in my neck,” she said in 2016. “So, after years of care, my neurologists are sending me to a neurosurgeon because I need to have another spinal surgery.”

Gilbert would later reveal that her third surgery had failed. “It didn’t fuse and so I had all of this pain, and apparently the hardware was boring holes in my vertebra above and below,” she revealed.

This prompted yet another surgery in 2020 with Dr. Robert Bray, who had performed her first spinal surgery. This latest procedure involved removing old hardware, shaving off bone spurs, and inserting an artificial disc, offering hope for a future free from spinal issues.

Gilbert shared an Instagram update that followed her surgery. She described the surgery as “wildly successful,” with Dr. Bray able to give her a new artificial disc, alleviating the pain that had become unbearable.

A few weeks later, Gilbert claimed that her recovery was going well. “I just kind of had achy soreness and I woke up after a nice shoulder rub from my husband on Saturday,” she said.

However, she began experiencing neck pain again several months ago and it turned out that she needed another operation to place a new artificial disc. As detailed in her latest post, Gilbert’s disc that needed replacement was completely destroyed and flat. “No wonder I was in such pain!” she wrote.

Throughout her health struggles, Gilbert has consistently praised the unwavering love of her husband, Timothy Busfield. In a previous post, Gilbert revealed that her husband supports her on “difficult” days.

Busfield is Melissa Gilbert’s third husband, who was also a newly divorced man when they met. Their relationship, born out of mutual experiences of heartache and healing, has been a cornerstone of Gilbert’s resilience.