Colorectal

Chloe and Pilonidal cyst

From Recurrent Cysts to Relief: Chloe’s Life-Changing Treatment Journey

Creative and outgoing, Chloe shines in color guard, marching band, and choir. But in early 2023, she found herself facing a painful and embarrassing health issue she wasn’t sure how to talk about.

“After I got diagnosed, there were a lot of tears,” says Chloe, now 16. “I was terrified because I was in so much pain, and I didn’t know what the next few months would look like.”

Thanks to her family, friends, and her care team at Cincinnati Children’s, Chloe is now back doing the things she loves—and stronger than she ever expected to be.

Arriving at Cincinnati Children's

The trouble began on a family trip to Alabama just after Christmas 2022. “Chloe’s lower back started to hurt, so I suggested she take a bath to relax,” recalls her mom, Melissa. “One minute she was OK, and the next she was screaming for me to come upstairs.”

While in the tub, a cyst just above Chloe’s tailbone suddenly became extremely painful and then burst, bringing instant relief. The experience was alarming, and once things settled, Melissa turned to the internet for answers.

She learned that Chloe likely had a pilonidal cyst—named from a Latin phrase meaning “nest of hairs”—a condition where a small pocket forms near the tailbone and can trap loose hairs and other debris. As those hairs burrow deeper under the skin, they can create irritated or infected tunnels known as pilonidal sinus tracts.

On the long drive back home to Cincinnati a few days later, sitting made Chloe’s discomfort spike again. As soon as they arrived, Melissa took her to Cincinnati Children’s.

The emergency department team consulted Nelson Rosen, MD, director of the Colorectal Center, whose group treats about 400 adolescents and young adults each year in the hospital’s dedicated  Pilonidal Center. He recommended a minor procedure to drain the cyst, and Chloe was able to go home feeling better and on the path to recovery.

Telling Her Friends

A week later, Chloe returned to school. Though she hesitated to explain what was going on, she eventually confided in two close friends.

“They were great about it,” she says. “Whenever I had a doctor’s appointment, they would check in afterward. I told them everything, even when it wasn’t good news.”

Unfortunately, relief after that first procedure didn’t last. Over the next few months, Chloe returned to the Pilonidal Center several times for follow ups and treatments. The discomfort could be intense, making it hard to focus while in class or sit for long periods. Some days, the pain was too much, and her parents had to pick her up early.

“I remember thinking, ‘Is this ever going to end?’” Chloe says.

More Procedures, More Missed School

When Chloe's pain returned several weeks after her cyst was drained, Dr. Rosen recommended the Gips procedure, a minimally invasive method that removes the tiny openings leading to the sinus tracts and cleans out the cavity.

“Cincinnati Children’s is a high volume center for the Gips procedure, performing about 125 each year,” says Allie Caja, RN, MSN, who helped launch the Pilonidal Center. “About 70 percent of patients here don’t need further treatment.”

Chloe had the Gips procedure in February 2023. For a time, it seemed promising—until her symptoms returned once again. The Gips procedure is a very small procedure that usually takes about 15 minutes to perform, doesn’t cause significant pain, and allows people to return to normal activity immediately. Many people will opt for a second attempt before deciding to move to the next level. Chloe had a second Gips procedure in April of 2023. Unfortunately her symptoms still returned. 

This recurrence became the turning point for the family. After discussing options with Dr. Rosen, they decided on the cleft-lift procedure, a more involved surgery that removes all infected tissue and reshapes the area to prevent future problems. They scheduled it with the expectation that Chloe would need the summer to heal. She had the surgery and things went very well.

Her recovery was slow but steady, and by August—just in time for eighth grade—Chloe finally felt like herself again.

Just a Brief Chapter in a Happy Life

When school started, Chloe could sit comfortably again. She could focus. And she could finally return to the parts of life that bring her joy: color guard, marching band, choir, and being with her friends. After such a long stretch of uncertainty, these everyday moments felt like small victories.

As Chloe eased back into her routines, she realized just how much she had grown. She was still the kid who cracked jokes with her care team, but now she carried a quiet confidence she hadn’t known before.

“I feel like I can get through anything now,” she says. “I didn’t know I could handle so much pain and uncertainty, but I did.”

She credits her family, her friends, and especially her care team. She felt a special connection with nurse Caja.

“Allie understood how important it was for me to get better so I could do marching band and hang out with my friends,” Chloe says. “She and Dr. Rosen always tried to find something positive, even when I was overwhelmed. I can’t thank them enough.”

Not every patient needs as much time to recover, Caja says, but the team is prepared to help however long it takes.

“Many kids are nervous to tell their parents what’s going on—we often hear they’ve been hiding symptoms for a long time,” she explains. “But this condition is treatable. For most, it becomes just a brief chapter in their lives. Before long, like Chloe, they’re back to doing what they love.”

(Published February 2026)