[x]

LifeIt's been a while since my last journal entry, and a lot has been going on in my life lately. I just thought I'd take a moment and tell you a little bit about what I've been through.
On March 28th, I had major surgery on my spine and back. Since I was 11, I've been living with a condition called idiopathic scoliosis, which pretty much causes your spine to grow from side to side in a S-shape instead of straight. There is no way of knowing why this condition exists and once it's happening, it's hard to stop. I've learned to live with the constant pain and the consequences. I wore a back brace when I was younger, made out of hard plastic, that forced my spine into a straighter position. Unfortunately, once I stopped, my curvature continued to increase. For a few years now, I've been waiting for surgery, a spinal fusion, to correct my scoliosis. On March 28th, it happened. I was cut open on my right side, they split my ribcage wide open, punctured my right lung, removed one of my ribs, and

Brief UpdateYesterday, I dislocated my knee at work.
I'm okay, don't worry, I have seen better days however.
If you would like to know more details, please go to This blog and read it. It's my blog called Patella Problems, and it basically describes what happened, and how the recovery process is going.
Warning: This blog does, can, and will have disturbing images of my dislocated knee, as well as the aftermath, such as the bruising and potential deformities that could occur. This blog will also document some TMI things.
ONLY VISIT IT AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION, PLEASE.
Once again, the link;
Patella Problems

Grey and BrownI once knew a boy with heterochromia. The prick of intelligence in his one grey eye was sharp as a needle and made the dirt brown one look that much duller in comparison. With one eye he would gain your trust and with the other stab you in the back. The grey eye swirled like a thunderstorm in its socket and the chocolate brown was calm and steady, observing the world almost with a distant warmth. The effect on his entire face was disconcerting; seeing the two images juxtaposed against each other was surreal and uncanny. It sent chills up and down my spine every time he set his gaze upon me – first as though I were an old friend, then as

WALL OF SURVIVORS: kika567's storyThis is the story of :iconkika567:
I was diagnosed with scoliosis in december 2010 when I had a 17 degree in my lumbar region. In June 2011, we found out that my curve increased to 38 degrees and I now had a 18 degree compensating thoracic curve. I was immediately put in a Boston Brace, and in February 2012 I had a follow up and my lumbar curve had increased to 48 degrees and the thoracic curve had increased to 20. A week ago, I had another X-ray and my lumbar curve has increased to 53 degrees and my thoracic curve increased to 24 degrees. I am scheduled to get surgery in mid July, I am 13 years old now and have had scoliosis since I was 11.

ScoliosisScoliosis
By Kenny

They attach a metal rod
against your crooked spine
and we tell ourselves it's
just so you sit up a little
straighter, stand a little
taller, but I can tell you
are afraid of any and all
restraints.
I cried for you today,
shoving past logic to
try to make sense of
it all and laughing in
the face of Aristotle
to get a better grasp
of why.
I know you're scared
but don't get carried
away with R's and let
dread linger on your

Browse More Like This

Shop Similar Prints
This Print Not Available more ▶

More from ~attlid

View Gallery · View Prints

Featured in Groups:

#ScoliosisSupport

#Scolliosis-Survivers
Every one is welcome.

#Passionate-Portraits
Where Passion Burns

Details

Submitted: June 1, 2012
Image Size: 42.5 KB
Resolution: 900×600

Link

Thumb

Statistics

Comments: 38
Favourites: 16 [who?]
Views: 1,825 (3 today)

[x]

Scoliosis | Scar 5 weeks post-opby ~attlid

Photography / Photojournalism / People

^{The scar from my spinal fusion.}If you wanna read more about my surgery, see more pictures etc, I have everything gathered at [link]^{The surgery
My surgery was done from the front instead of the back, meaning that they cut through the right side of my ribcage, punctured my lung, removed one of my ribs and then separated all of my ribs (on the right side) from my spine, before fusing my spine with screws and a metal rod. They then put my ribs back together (except the one they completely removed), and 8 hours later, I woke up in the ICU. I spent 9 days at the hospital, and then it took me about 5 weeks at home to return back to "normal". I didn't know pain like that existed. I also got addicted to the morphine and had horrible panic attacks combined with depression and anxiety. I didn't think I would be able to handle it at several points.

It's been 9 weeks now, and it's still really rough, but a lot better, and I'm extremely proud of myself for making it through.

This scar will always remind me of everything I've survived. I look down at it, and I'm proud.}

~~love 0 0~~

joy 1 1

~~wow 0 0~~

~~mad 0 0~~

~~sad 0 0~~

~~fear 0 0~~

~~neutral 0 0~~

~Le-laa Feb 1, 2013

I had that surgery to when i was 14-15 years old! i have 2 scars but smaller !!

~SidneyLouiseMunns01 Jan 11, 2013

I think you are very brave to tell your story online like this!, because I know me personally couldn't do it but now that I've read your side and how your coping with things, you've really inspired me to talk about my operation were as before I didn't talk to anyone about it.
I also had Scolliosis but the procedure was done on my left side and I always though that I was the only one to have it done on the side of my body, were the other girls on my ward around me had there's done on there backs. I had the operation done in October 2012 and it has taken me take long to understand and talk about it and for that im very greatful and can't thank you enough! Hope the rest of your recovery goes we'll!

~Hali9807 Jan 6, 2013

You are a beautiful, strong, brave and amazing woman. Thank you for sharing this very special part of your life with us. A true inspiration. God bless you.

~devilskills Nov 30, 2012 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

Inspirational.

~muttiniraq Oct 21, 2012

I am so sorry that you had to suffer such an ordeal.

The memories of what you endured will make you stronger.

I hope that no such ordeal will ever again lay in your future.

~VocaApple Oct 19, 2012 Hobbyist Artist

MY GOD..FINALLY..FINALLY..SOMEONE ELSE WHO GOT IT FROM THE SIDE!!!! I ALSO HAD THIS SURGERY! They took out one of my ribs too. It feels really nice to know someone else had it similar.. I got my surgery on July 26th. I feel pretty good now but am still weak. I faced my biggest fear and like you, my scar is there to keep me proud. I too felt the same as you did painwise. It was like a nightmare wasn't? Glad we both pulled through.. ; w ;

*Taka67 Sep 30, 2012

Holy crap! Why did....well, I imagine they had a very good reason for going in the way they did, although it seems sort of like crashing through the lobby of a bank in your car to make a withdraw from the drive thru teller.

Hopefully you'll never have to go through anything like that again during your life.

~attlid Oct 2, 2012 Professional Photographer

this is my favorite comment i've ever recieved i think. haha, thank you soooo much

~DragonKira Sep 28, 2012

Omg, poor you, and brave you as well! How bad was it since you needed an operation? I have scoliosis as well, I don't think it's very advanced, but I can see it and it bothers me a lot. I have heard so many horror tales about operation, even people that got paralyzed that I would be very scared to do it! I am happy all worked out for you! You are truly beautiful, I saw your pics!

*Jsaren Jul 26, 2012 Professional Interface Designer

lol This probably sounds cheesy, but my heart always swells when I read the stories of fellow survivors of scoliosis! I wish I could hug every single one in person!!

Oddly enough, the whole surgery (this was a couple years ago) and pain parts didn't really bother me that much - it was the time afterwards that sucked. I got really irritated about not being able to get up and do everything I was used to doing. The doctors encouraged me to get up and walk (with supervision), but it was so frustrating to walk down a short hallway, and have it be so difficult when it should be so easy.

The worst part for me was that, after I was taken off of the morphine, I couldn't get to sleep. No one warned me about the post-surgery depression either. Most of the time, I was still awake past 4 in the morning when no one else was, and I'd get really lonely sitting in the dark and quiet. One time, I remember randomly bursting into tears for no reason!

It was worth it in the end though!

More from ~attlid

Featured in Groups:

Details

Statistics

Scoliosis | Scar 5 weeks post-opby ~attlid

The Journal Portal

Polls

What is your preferred drawing software?

deviantART [dee·vee·un'nt·ART]

Keep in Touch!

Deviousness

Add Media

Style