Be You

I will never forget during middle school when they do scoliosis screenings. Scoliosis is a sideways condition of the spine. Its uncomfortable and embarrassing.  We don't have to rehash the screening process, but you all have been there. Three years in a row I failed the test. I continued to see my pediatrician for screenings and as the years passed they kept telling me it was just a mild case of scoliosis. 

Of course when you hit your growth spurt you either grow straight or sideways. I grew sideways quickly and almost overnight. I went from a standard 12 degree curvature to a 45 degree curvature within a matter of 6 months. The curvature was so severe it was not correctable by wearing a brace. I had to have surgery.

Two titanium rods, dozens of screws, and fourteen hours later, I was corrected to a 19 degree curvature. I lost two ribs but gained two inches in height. They closed my incision using staples which looked pretty rad I'm not going to lie. I had to stay in bed the entire summer. Do breathing treatments to get my lung function up to par. And I perfected the log roll out of bed. 

Going back to school was fine. I had to quit gymnastics, no big deal. But the aftermath that my scar left behind stayed with me forever. No bikini tops, wore my hair long, I was obviously self conscious about it. But over the years, I forgot about it.  I don't even remember that it's there. And I feel like all the scars that you live with (whether it's a physical scar or internal scar) they are a part of you. They make you who you are. 

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