Samantha's story: my name is Samantha and I'm 13 years old. I found out about my scoliosis in October of 2005 at a physical at my doctors. My doctor told me to bend over and as she looked at my spine she told my parents that there was a slight curve in it. It wasn't severe, it was below a ten, but she recommended that I come back in 2 months to take an X-ray.

When I came back for my X-rays , she told me to see a specialist -Dr. R.ULin so that he could examine the x-rays and decide what to do about my scoliosis. when i saw the specialist, he showed us the x-rays and the curve was big. it had gone up to 40. I had the choice to wear a brace for 2 years for sixteen hours a day-with no guarantee of fixing the scoliosis-just keeping it from moving, or a surgery where he said he could get the curve down to a 10 degree. my choice was without a doubt in my mind.........the surgery.

On July 5th I went to Mt. Sinai hospital for my surgery. I couldn't drink or eat anything that day or after 12 the night before. Before i went into the operating room. many people came , to put the IV in , and a lot of my surgeons came. Then they took me into the room. I said goodbye to my parents, cried a little, and I remember my doctor telling me to think of something nice, and I did and the next thing I knew I was in the intensive care unit.

To be honest it wasn't all that bad. the first two days are the worst. because you cant drink or eat anything and my lips and eyes were swollen. I was on morphine. and I really wasn't in a lot of pain from what I remember. I was in ICU for 4 days then moved to a regular room. I was doing great. I already had my brace, I was walking already, not tired at all, and I was back to my normal eating diet. most of all I was feeling great-with my family right there beside me.

To all of those who have a choice like me , my advice to you is to go with the surgery. The nurses were very gentle and caring people who took care of me so well. And my surgeons were successful in getting my spine down to 10 degree. I've been home for over 3 weeks now and I'm doing a lot better than I should be doing. I mean a lot of cases are different but I don't remember being in a lot of pain. my brace is pretty comfortable and I have to wear if for the first month of school, but all I can do is be grateful for my new and almost straight spine. Good luck to all of you who are getting ready to go through this. There is nothing to worry about. You'll be better before you know it.

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