We're Bent, Not Broken

In 1990, we had scoliosis checks at school, but not very thorough. There wasn't much known about the condition at all. Scoliosis is a condition

where the spine curves and sometimes even rotates as a person grows.

I remember the first time my "check" in school was a little off. The nurse said "hm, it might be a little crooked, no big deal" and called it a day. It wasn't until 7 years later did a doctor find the problem during a sports physical, and it was too late to treat it (by that time I was 16).

No one could tell me why I had it or what I should do. All I knew is that I was made fun of for the way I stood, kids in school accusing me of being a slut simply because I "pushed my boobs and butt out on purpose". I also knew I'd never be able to join the military so there was no point in continuing my participation in the ROTC program. Which was a bummer because I was really good at leading marching drills (mostly because I loved to yell at people).

After high school is when the pain started. I couldn't stand in one spot for too long, couldn't bend to one side, and some days felt like I was being stabbed with a hot knife in every vertebrae. I spent years trying to find relief with different doctors, exercises, and medications. Thankfully, I now see a chiropractor once a month and take muscle relaxers each night before bed. I still have pain and tightness, but it's bearable and I can function normally for the most part.

It didn't stop there however. When my daughter was 7 years old, I took her in for a physical for Girl Scout camp. Her doctor found that her spine was starting to curve. All we could do is keep an eye on it as she grew. We tried braces of all kinds, chiropractors, and physical therapy...but her growth spurts were ruthless. I watched helpless as her curve went from 10 degrees to 25 to 50. By the time she was 12 years old, her spine had rotated and curved right into her lungs with a 95 degree curve. She wouldn't go anywhere without a jacket on, no matter how hot it was, in order to hide herself. She couldn't keep up with other kids or even myself. It was time to seriously intervene.

That's when Shriners hospital came to our rescue. Within 6 months of walking in there in tears, they had spinal fusion surgery scheduled for her before it started to push against her heart. With two rods, 23 screws, and 6 hours of worry, she is still slightly curved but not very noticeable. The biggest change was her confidence. The down side is she now has pain like I do where she hadn't before. She'll never be able to jump on trampolines (her favorite thing to do), play contact sports, or even sit comfortably in hard chairs. But she came out like a warrior and not a single tear.

I'll never forget the first words she said when waking up from anesthesia. "I did it mom, because we're strong women right?" Damn right we are.

So much more is known about the disorder than there was 27 years ago in that gym locker room with the school nurse. Children all over the country are getting their intervention in time to save their quality of life. If it weren't for Shriner's Hospital, my daughter (who is now a 5'9" confident beauty), could have lost her ability to breathe with a beating heart.

Things you may not have known about scoliosis

• patients with scoliosis have a miscommunication between their brain and muscles that support the spine

• More than 80% of cases are considered to have no known cause

• nearly a third of patients with scoliosis have a family history of the condition, so it is considered genetic. Scientists still have yet to identify the genes responsible.

• scoliosis is much more common in girls, but can still happen in boys

• curves can be in an S-shape or a C-shape and can sometimes rotate or twist at the curve sites.

• scoliosis affects 1 in 40 people in the U.S.

• Early diagnosis is key to a timely intervention

• June is scoliosis awareness month

• as my daughter says, "we're not broken, chill out. We're just bent"

For more information, support, or to find out how you can help children in need of intervention:

www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org

curvygirlsscoliosis.com