In The End

Scoliosis. 

I had it. I fought it. I won.

Here is my story....

I had always been a tall, skinny, boney girl. My shoulder blades would always stick out and kids in school would always point at my back and say things about how boney I was. I didn't listen. I was diagnosed with Scoliosis at a very young age. As the years passed, I had 2 spinal curvatures with degrees of 45 and 60. I didn't know what that meant at the time. All I know was that my doctor told me that the only answer for me was surgery. I even went for a second opinion and he had said the same thing. Four months after I turned 12, I checked into my 7 hour surgery and was in the hospital for a week after that. The first time I was able to stand up and walk around was about 4 days after surgery. With my mother and nurse there to help me, my mother had looked up at me in astonishment... why? I was about 1-2 inches taller within those days due to the straightening of my spine. It was the most pain I had/have ever experienced in my life. I was home for almost 3 months after before returning to school in the 7th grade.

About 2 years later upon entering my freshman yr in HS, I joined the basketball team for one season and realized that although I was fast, I wasn't good enough to play the sport. Soon after, I joined the track team and became one of the top runners/ high jump champions in the county, as a freshman... beating the best girl in the county. I also hurdled, sprinted, ran distance, long jumped and did almost every event in track and field, all 3 seasons, for 4 years. And thanks to my surgery, I still continue to run and compete in races and have won over 100 medals. Having Scoliosis and the surgery was indeed, a blessing in disguise. It has made me a stronger person inside and out and my endurance for pain (of all sorts) has increased, because if I can go through that, I know I can go through anything!

I wrote something on the exact date of my 13 year anniversary (October 26) and I wanted to post it here, but I was a little caught up, so here, 13 days later, I share with you my feelings of triumph.

Today I celebrate 13 years of living a life I never knew I'd have; a life that would have been completely different if my mom didn't make the life or death decision for me to have major scoliosis surgery. Thanks to this life changing experience, I have grown into a stronger, braver, bolder, livelier, and much more grateful woman. And thanks to my amazing boyfriend, he has shown me and made me believe that even something that is ugly and hideous to me, is beautiful and symbolic to him. I am so glad to be alive ♥ Keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about. ♥

 *Go on the right side of the screen and you will see a Scoliosis Awareness group cause that you should join! Why? Because as a survivor, there are many people who suffer every day from it and the least I (and you) can do is acknowledge their existence and struggles and help them fight for a better life.