I first found out I had scoliosis when I was 16. Mum was making my ball (prom) dress for my first ball (prom) when she noticed that one of my shoulder blades was more prominent than the other. We didn’t do anything about it until 2005, when we went to see the doctor and he told me I had idiopathic scoliosis. He made an appointment for me to have an X-ray taken but I didn’t have it done until the end of 2005.

I was never told how big my curve was, until I had to go up to Christchurch Hospital at the end of April 2006. I had another X-ray taken and the specialist measured it. It was 55 degrees! I was too old for a brace by then. Then he told me that curves over 50 degrees required surgery. I literally broke down, crying. I couldn’t believe it. The shock was too great. I refused point bluntly to have it.

But that weekend, I started thinking. Maybe having surgery would be better than leaving my curve to get bigger. By the end of that weekend, I had decided that I wanted to have the surgery.

The next time I had an appointment in Christchurch, I was all set to tell the specialist that I definitely wanted to have the surgery. But we had received some pretty bad weather (namely snow), one week before, and the runway at Dunedin Airport was a sheet of ice. The specialist didn’t make it up, so we spent the afternoon shopping instead!

My surgery is scheduled for September. I am still quite afraid that something could go wrong, but reading all these positive stories on SpineKIDS has DEFINITELY helped me. So thanks so much!

Update - August 8, 2007
I was told in December last year that I wasn't having the operation. I'd already had my heart set on it! My curve is actually only about 52 degrees. Anyway, my surgeon told me that the surgery was too risky, and that if I did have it, I'd have a big scar down my back for the rest of my life. I could also end up in a wheelchair. So at the moment, there is no operation on the horizon for me.

I have to go back this December for another check-up, so might be able to update more then.

Thanks to SpineKids.com for allowing me to share my story with the world, and see that I'm not different, I'm unique!

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