Scoliosis... What!?

For all of you who don't know what scoliosis is, it is the curvature of the spine.

When I was in the 6th grade my catholic school had decided to administer physicals. One day soon after my physical was taken a letter arrived in the mail. It stated that I had a mild case of scoliosis. Well my mom did not think much of it so we did not do anything about it. That is we did not do anything until my family doctor suggested I see a specialist in the beginning of my 8th grade year (specialist here by called Dr. H because one I can't spell her name, and two it's even harder to say than spell hahaha).

The first time I went to meet Dr. H, she had an emergency patient so I didn't get to see her. I went back to school and was bombarded with questions about how my appointment went. I guess I'm a good actor because I put on a grim, serious face and they totally fell for it! I told them the truth about not even seeing my doctor and we all started laughing. Ever heard of the boy who called wolf? Didn't turn out so well for him.

Life continued on and I waited for my next appointment to arrive. I was in my modern dance class one evening and the teacher yelled at me while we were in plank position -- plank position is basically the same as push up position, it works out the abs. She yelled at me that my back was crooked. I don't know if I've ever even blushed as hard before, I was so embarrassed. I remember the teacher gaping at me as I told her I had scoliosis and therefore couldn't fix anything. When she said her next words I have to admit I was a little freaked out. She said with wide eyes, "That bad!?" I didn't know how bad it was, and she made me stand up and examined me. I became the new freak in class because my teacher tended to point me out and say, "Krys can do it with her back then so can all of you!" It is so not fun to be pointed out.

I had my second appointment with Dr. H and when we arrived at the hospital where she worked there was a fire truck outside the building. I told my mom that this must be a sign or something and we laughed. That appointment was quick and to the point. I met Dr. H and then she examined me. Once that was done she sent me for some x-rays. Afterwards my mom took me back for the rest of school day. And once again I did my little act (wolf). Are you counting the wolves?

Finally we went back for the results. Dr. H showed us the x-rays and explained that my curve was 45degrees and was causing my spine to slightly resemble an s, yup I had a large curve that created a smaller one at the bottom. She then told me that surgery was mandatory. I was doing okay until my mom said, "You know this means no dance, right?" That is when I lost it. The tears spilled over my eyelids and sobs racked my body. My mom put her arm around me trying to comfort me, but it didn't work. The male doctor in the room panicked at the sight of me and ran out of the room in search for a box of tissues when there was a box right on the counter.

Dr. H told me that I wouldn't be able to dance for six months after the surgery, but I would be able to go back if all went well. That gave me hope. I stopped sobbing, but tears continued to silently fall down my cheeks. My mom and I made our way back to her car and I climbed into the back seat. I stretched across the seat my back facing my mother as I continued to cry. My mom had an idea. She grabbed her cell phone and handed it to me with a 'Call Car.' Car was my babysitter. She started watching me when I was 8 weeks old till age 12. She was more than my babysitter, she was and still is like my second mother. As soon as we started talking I immediately calmed down. I somehow knew I could face this.

We stopped off for some McDonalds and went back to school. I took my food outside with me because everyone was already out at recess. I told my friends about the surgery, and at first they were skeptical. See what happens when you cry wolf! But I explained everything and was soon encircled with hugs from all my girl friends.

My surgery was scheduled for July 09, 2003. I worked my butt off the rest of the year in dance to better myself. Hoping that maybe the teachers would put me in competition groups even though I couldn't audition.

My surgery went well. They put Harrington rods in my back. They fuse the rods to my spine. I actually turned out to be one of the best patients. Well I wasn't on the first day when they made me walk and I was in so much pain I kinda yelled at the nurses for making me walk and told them they were going to hell. I didn't mean it, but I was in so much pain. I remember the first night after my surgery.

My mom was resting in the recliner next to my bed. I woke up and my hand was really bothering me. When I looked at it I noticed that it was swelling where the IV was. I woke my mom up and we called in the nurses. Let me remind you that I just had two metal rods fused with my SPINE! They couldn't find my vein to put the IV in, therefore I wasn't receiving my pain meds either. I started to cry from the pain as they poked and prodded at me. My mom was holding my left hand rubbing soothing circles in it. She was crying as well because she hated seeing me in pain like that. Finally an older nurse came in and within a minute found my vein.

I recovered quickly and six months later I got the okay from Dr. H that I could start dancing again! I competed from 9th grade to the 12th grade.

Anyway I'm going to put my little zen life lesson thing in like I have in every post so far. Don't let anything keep you from doing something you love. Whether it be falling in a pothole and spraining your ankle ;o), or having back surgery it's up to you to make your dreams come true. Now not everything has a happy ending, this is not a fairytale after all. But right now we are at the beginning so make it as happy as possible! It's up to you to make your life as best as possible, you and only you!