5th Anniversary Ramblings

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of my Scoliosis surgery:spinal fusion with titanium rods and screws.I was diagnosed in January 2009, when I went in for a check-up at our pediatrician's.  After she had me do the "spinal-bend-over" test, she suddenly said to my Mom, "She has Scoliosis!" I was surprised to hear that. I had thought Scoliosis only happened in older people. I was sent downstairs for x-rays. It didn't look good, but it also didn't look serious enough to operate on at that moment.

I was sent to see a Pediatric surgeon. He monitored me for a few months to see if I would get worse and need surgery, or if I would stay the same and just need a brace. My spine eventually did get worse. It turned into almost a perfect "S" shape. It would get catches or clicks in my back and/or neck a lot, and I was beginning to looked a bit crooked. The top curve was 46 degrees, and the bottom one was 36 degrees. No brace would fix those curves. I needed to have surgery. I was pretty scared at first. I went into Sutter Memorial Hospital very early in the morning on July 9th, 2009. By then, I wasn't as afraid as I had been; I knew that God would be with me. I knew there was a risk that I could become paralyzed, but I wasn't worried much about it.I trusted God.If I was to become paralyzed, so be it. 

The surgery took 7 hours. Since I was face-down the entire time, my face became horribly swollen. I guess I looked pretty scary afterward! The Dr. left my lower curve alone so I wouldn't get Arthritis in that lumbar region, so it's still about 20 degrees or more off of normal.  Straightening the top portion automatically improved the lower spine to some degree. During the surgery, I had to have a blood transfusion, which the Dr. originally thought wouldn't be necessary.

 The first night I had to stay in Intensive Care because I developed a fever and had a little problem with my oxygen level. By the next day, I began trying to walk. It was hard and painful at first, but it got easier.I really appreciated the fact that my Mom was with me every night, and that my she, my Dad, and sister were there every day supporting me. It was also nice when my other family members and some friends would come to visit me or leave comments on my caring bridge page. I got a lot of flowers and teddy bears, let me tell you! It was nice, though :) The nurses/physical therapists who worked with me were also very nice, so I was thankful for that. I came home on the fifth day after the surgery.

 A short time after the operation, my lower curve got a little worse, so I had to wear a brace 24/7 for two years while my body finished growing. I was happy to be done with it, but I missed it a little, too (I liked the pretty butterfly design! Yes, I am weird. XD)

I'm so grateful that God allowed everything to go well!  I am basically back to normal now. I still tilt a little bit and my hips aren't level, but it's no big deal. I'm just that glad I can still walk normally. That is a blessing! 

I hope that my experience can someday be encouraging to others who are going through the same things I went through.