Continued from Part 1...

Day 3 17th April
Not much change this day either. I think I was having my favourite juice now, grape juice. More family came to visit and family friends came as well. Very sadly though, in the afternoon, we got a call from my grandpa in Korea saying that my grandma (dad’s mum) had passed away. We were all very sad about this but we knew that this would happen soon as she had diabetes for over 20 years and had been lying in bed for 7 years (occasionally getting into her wheelchair to join the rest of her family socializing). She had fallen into a coma/unconscious in February and even though she was unconscious, my grandpa told her that my surgery had gone great, she somehow weakly squeezed his hand. So we think that she was hanging onto the time she heard about my surgery and then she let go. I’m so grateful to my grandma for this. My dad apologised for not being able to stay in hospital and told me that he would have to go over to Korea for her funeral and other arrangements and I totally understood and forgave him. He left for Korea the next day and my aunty+uncle+cousin looked after my lil brother for the rest of my hospital stay. Also that night, I cried for a bit because I was so frustrated that I can’t sit or move around freely. I wanted to get up that second but the nurse explained that I would be doing that the next day. I also got my IV out that day which was a painful experience because the stupid nurse didn’t know the IV line was stitched to my arm and she started pulling on it trying to take it out but obviously it didn’t come out (cos it was stitched). Then she got another nurse who explained it was stitched and apologised and the other nurse got it out for me carefully. I was sleeping less this day so I watched some TV (which was joined to this thing where I could move it anywhere I could in my room).

Day 4 18th April
Quite a lot of things happened today. Near lunchtime, my PT came in and got me to sit and stand. It was so hard, tiring and sore but it was worth it because I felt so stiff just lying on a bed for 3.5 days. I can’t remember precisely, but I rolled onto my stomach then got my legs down and got up with my arm muscle (and the PT). I felt so dizzy then. Stood for about a minute then walked to the door and back to my bed. I think I did that twice that day except on the second time, I sat on a chair for about 10 minutes. Also I sat in my bed to have some dinner which I don’t remember precisely but something like chicken soup and jelly. Also I thought that I might like to eat custard so my aunty brought some vanilla custard for me to eat (which was the main thing I ate the whole stay).

During the night, I woke up and realised that I had a bleeding nose. Woke my mum up and she got the nurse. It was bleeding in both holes pretty rapidly. Had to sit up and let it flow for about 2hours because that’s how long it came rapidly. Then I was able to go back to sleep but with this huge thing covering my nose (because blood was still coming out). The blood came out for about 4 hours after that (but slower). I reckon this was only because my body is quite weak and when it major things happen to it, it warns me by bleeding my nose (which also happened a year before when I went on a 13 hour plane flight).

Day 5 19th April
In the morning, a nurse took me in for my first shower. She wheelchaired me to the bathroom and sat me on a chair and gave me a short shower which was painful as I had to sit and move my body but I was glad it was done because my body and hair had felt so yuck and groggy before it. Ate some more solids (I think some potatoes and steak) and a lot more grape juice and vanilla custard. Watched a lot of TV, read some mags etc... Also I had to walk around the ward, around the nurses station (where I got a lot of praise from) couple of times that day which wasn’t sore, just a bit tiring but it was good to get all the stiffness out of me.

Day 6 20th April
This day was discharge day. Woke up, had another shower, had breakfast, mastered a flight of stairs and I was able to go at around 11.30am. The ride home was a bit sore but I could manage it. Had a whole lot of cushions waiting for me in the car which was really helpful. The ride took about 20 minutes then went straight upstairs to my room. Lay there for a bit then looked for my laptop to go on MSN to talk to my friends but I couldn’t find it and my mum was resting in her own bed (after sleeping in a crappy small bed for the last 6 days). I gave up and watched some DVD’s. Then went to look for my laptop again, found it but it was under the bed, really deep inside, so I obviously couldn’t get it out. But remembered that I could go on the family computer (don’t know why I didn’t think of that before). Went on, and I was so glad to talk to my friends again. I was so sweaty because I was moving more than I had the days before... Went back to sleep and had dinner in bed.

Recovery
Well, luckily I didn’t have any complications during my recovery. Most days, I slept in, watched a lot of TV and DVD’s, went on MSN and talked to friends, walked around the house and ate. After a couple of days, 2 of my besties came to my house to chat and catch on some stuff which was neat. School started back on my 13th birthday (27th April) and after school, 3 of my besties came to tell me how school was and more catching up...

Because my school uses laptops (everyone carries them), I was able to communicate with my teacher and friends during school time and they told me what they were doing every period and I would catch up on work that way.

About 4 weeks after my surgery and 2 weeks into the new school term, I went back for 2/6 periods and everyone was so gentle and caring which was very sweet of them. For that week, I went for 2 periods, next week 4 and at about 6 weeks post, I was back at school fulltime.

I went for a post-op check-up at 1 month, 6 months and at both time, I just asked questions I had and got x-rays done (showed that I still had a 10* curve). Basically at 6 months post, I was doing everything I used to do before my surgery including contact sports.

Now I’ve just past my 20th month mark and so far so good. I’m going for another and probably the last check-up at 2 years post (April 2006).

Because I’ve just written this (November 05) right now, maybe I don’t remember every precise moment but this experience was a really good one so I tried to remember all the ‘milestones’ that I hit. If I could do the whole process again, I certainly would do it again with a little changes.

1. Keep a diary or something to write every special moment during the surgery stage down
2. Ring my friends in hospital (which I unfortunately didn’t) to ask them to come over to see me
3. Take before and after pics of my back (hump)
4. FIND SPINEKIDS BEFORE MY SURGERY!!!!!

Even though I didn’t go on spinekids before my surgery (I found it during July 04) everyone has been supportive and great throughout my recovery. Thanks guyz! You can reach me in the spinekids boards with the username scoli_esther_nz.

Post-Op Photos
Here is a pic of my spine a month after surgery with a curve of 10* (after surgery)

Here s a pic of my scar in my hip where my bone graft took place (pic taken Dec 05-20 months post surgery)

Here is a pic of my back where my scar has nearly faded away (pic taken Dec 05-20 months post surgery)

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