Hi! My name is Ceci. I have had scoliosis since I was 7 years of age. I was diagnosed from the school nurse. Then I started seeing a pediatric orthopedic doctor. I had the usual x-rays and exams. For the whole time I went to him I was always stable. I did (Boston) bracing for about 4 years and also did a lot of physical therapy.

I got to the point where I started having stomach problems and lung problems. I was starting to have trouble breathing and was breathing half of what everyone else was. My lungs were being compressed by my curve. So I went to a adult orthopedic surgeon named Dr. Christopher Hamill. My curve changed ten degrees within two years. So I had a 74* curve.

So I started going to Dr. Hamill and had some x-rays and an MRI for my back. I went to my second visit and we scheduled surgery for four weeks from then. My surgery was scheduled for September 19, 2003. I went to the hospital two weeks before my surgery for my pre-op. I had a spinal cord monitoring test and then talked to the nurse about the day of surgery. Then I had a physical exam and then they took some blood.

My Surgery Day/ September 19, 2003
My family and I got to Buffalo General Hospital about 5:45 on Friday morning and surgery was at 7:00. I registered with the front desk and waited for someone to take me up to the pre-op room. When we got up there they helped me get into my gown and slippers. They also gave me a blanket. The nurses on the pre-op floor checked me out and wrote down my medications. The anesthesiologist came to talk to me and then my doctor came in. I then got rolled down to a holding room and my mom was allowed to come also. They put my IV's in. I had three of IV's and gave me some nerve medicine. The last thing I remember was talking to the one doctor about seeing the light he said I wouldn't and that was a promise. Then that is all I remember.

After Surgery
My sugery was about 8 and a half hours long. I remember waking up in ICU and seeing mom and dad and my stepmom. I was thirsty because I asked for anti-nausea medicine during surgery. Anti-nausea medicine is good to ask for because you don't get sick. I had the old surgery with the 2 foot incision in my back and a incision in my hip for the fusion they took the pelvic bone to fuse in my back. So I was thirsty.

I remember waking up to seeing some of my aunts and uncles which was nice. I thought my mom stayed the first night, but she didn't so I was alone and awake all night. I had a pump for pain medicine also had a drain tube and a catheter which didn't bother me. I had about 5 blood tranfusions. The doctor's took my curve from a 74* down to a 33* curve.

On Saturday, I got to sit up for a little while. Then Sunday ,I sat up again. Sunday afternoon I went ot my own room and I rested for the rest of that day. My mother had stayed with me overnight which helped me a lot. On Monday, I walked in the hall with a walker. On Tuesday I walked with canes and walked up stairs and had some x-rays before I could go home. On Wednesday, I walked some more and did the steps again. Then the occupational therapist came in and showed me how to get dressed and how to get into the bathtub.

On Wednesday, I got sent home around 11:00 in the morning. It felt great to come home and sleep in my own bed. The ride was not that bad. I was tired and weak when I got home I slept a lot. My friend's came over to see me which made me feel better. Thank you to my doctor's, family and friend's for all there help.

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