June 16, 2004
My name is Sarah, I am 16 years old and I live in Iowa. Today I am going to the hospital to get lab work done. I had to wake up at 6:00 in the morning to get to Iowa City by 9:00 in the morning. I am having surgery tomorrow to straighten my spine. I have scoliosis and a 54% curvature of my spine.

I am feeling fine right now because I cannot wait until my back stops hurting. I will be a little bit more nervous at the hospital. Before we went to the hospital we went to look at the Ronald McDonald House. I am going to stay at this house tonight. A Ronald McDonald House is a house where a family can stay when their child or children are in the hospital.

I am here at the hospital right now. I am having an EEG done. An EEG is where the doctors put little suction cups on your body. When I got into the room I was a little nervous because I didn't know what an EEG was.

The doctors put about ten of these suction cups all over your body. First they usually put them on your forehead and behind your ear. These suction cups are called electrodes. Then they put a couple on your back and your legs. When they got down to my ankles they put like a rubber band around both of my ankles. They attached those with tape. The doctors put the machine on. When they put the machine on it kind of felt weird because there was a tingly feeling in my ankles. Impulses were passing all through my body. EEG's are not scary. They also do not hurt.

Next I had to get x-rays for my back. I had to put a hospital gown on. The x-rays only took about 10 minutes. Then the doctors wanted me to see my doctor that was going to do my surgery. My doctor came in and talked to my mom and I about the surgery he was going to do the next day. Then a person came in to take pictures of my back also. After that a nurse came in and she had to take blood from me. I was a little bit nervous because I don't like getting stuck with needles. It was not that bad though. I didn't even feel it.

The last place we had to go to was the Anesthesia Room. This is where an anesthesiologist comes into the room and talks to you about what is going to happen the next day for surgery. They answered the questions that my mom and I had. Then they had to listen to me breathe and they had to look down my throat. They had to look down my throat because they have to put a tube down my mouth to help me breathe during surgery. Believe me the tube doesn't hurt because they put it in after you are asleep and they take it out before you are awake.

June 17, 2004
Today is the day of my surgery. I had to wake up around 8:00 in the morning to get ready and go to the hospital. I could not eat or drink anything after midnight. I am supposed to be there at the hospital by 9:00 in the morning. I am at the hospital right now. I had to get another EEG done for my surgery. It hurt a little bit but only because they were scratching my skin to put them on. I have to wait in the waiting room in the surgery room. The doctors finally called my name and I went into a little room. I had to put a gown on like I did on Wednesday. A nurse came into my room where I was at and she asked me some questions.

I was really tired in the morning because I didn't sleep the night before surgery very well. I was nervous. The time came when I had to go to the Pre Surgical Room. This room is where they put you into a hospital bed. Then after a little bit the anesthesiologist comes in and talks to you for a little bit. You can also ask your anesthesiologist to put you asleep before they put the IV in. I asked them to put me asleep. An IV is a little needle that usually goes into your hand and it gives you the anesthesia and fluids during and after surgery.

Then I had to go into a special room where they put me asleep. They put a child's mask over my nose and mouth. There is oxygen and a little bit of anesthesia in the mask. They told me to breathe through my nose and out through my mouth. I was out in 3 breaths. Then the doctors put the IV in me when I was asleep. After that they took me to the operating room. My surgery was 4-5 hours.

4 hours later......
The orthopedic doctor did a wake up test before I was done with my surgery. A wake up test is where the doctor tells you something in your ear like, "Wiggle your toes." Then you would wiggle your toes. After you do that they put you back to sleep and finish the surgery. (closing up with stitches) I didn't remember it. I woke up in the recovery room. When I woke up I was a little nervous because I didn't know where I was. I could not breathe very well either. I had too much fluid during my surgery so they backed off on that. They also gave me a pint of blood. About 10: 30 at night I went to my hospital room. I was really out of it still.

June 18, 2004
I pretty much slept today because I was so tired from the surgery. I could not drink any water or eat any ice chips. I could not have any water because my bowels had to wake up. When you are in surgery for a long time the medicine the doctors give you makes everything in your body sleep. I could not drink water for 3 days. I was getting really mad because I was thirsty. When I got to drink something I was so happy. The nurses were really nice at the University of Iowa hospital. My orthopedic doctor is Dr. Stuart Weinstein.

June 22, 2004
I was doing so well until today. I am nauseous and have uncontrollable diarrhea. I am in the bathroom every half hour. I had a procedure done with a scope that showed my colon was yellow and bumpy. A normal colon is supposed to be pink and smooth. I had a reaction to an antibiotic they gave me before my surgery called Ansef. This caused me to have pseudomembrane colitis. It was not fun.

June 22, 2004
I am finally ready to go home. (11 days since my surgery!) I still don’t feel the greatest but I want to go home. I had many pillows, which made the ride more comfortable. It was a 2 ½ hour drive.

Follow Up - July 14, 2004
It has been almost a month since my surgery and I am doing great! I am walking a lot and the only medicine I am taking is iron. My friends come over to my house and hang out a lot. I have my follow up doctor appt July 30 and I will let you know what they say.

I met President Bush in April because of my volunteer efforts before my surgery. He called me “The future of America” and encouraged me to continue my volunteering. I volunteered 150 hours last year. I would like to encourage all of you to volunteer, if it is 1 hour or 150 hours, every little bit counts. Kindness is what makes the world go round!

If you have any questions about this story or anything, look for me on the SpineKIDS Message Boards, screen name Westie0911. Feel free to write anytime, I will try to answer your questions. Thank you.

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