Hi, my name is Sarah, I live in England.

Three years ago my Mum noticed me standing awkwardly in a photograph. She wanted me to get checked out for Scoliosis because my Dad has a mild Scoliosis. She took me to my GP and he thought I might have it, so sent me to see Mr. Kershaw. I had an x-ray and was diagnosed with Scoliosis. It didn’t really bother me and it didn’t hurt my back. We went back every 6 months and for the next two years everything was fine, my curve stayed around 25-30 degrees. But in October 2008 my curve had progressed suddenly because I’d had a growth spurt. My curve was now at around 45 degrees. Surgery was suggested. Mr.Kershaw sent me to a specialist Mr.Sell. I had to have an MRI scan and hated it! It was really loud and small. Then in November we saw Mr.Sell, who asked me about any pain I was getting and how I felt about my Scoliosis. I now had two curves! My top curve was about 55-60 degrees and lower curve about 40 degrees. We talked about the surgery and my parents and I decided to go ahead with it. Around the start of January we got a date 30th January only four weeks away!

Pre-op 8th January Queens Medical Centre
We arrived at the hospital at 9:30. But clinic 3 was new so they took a while to get ready. At 10:30 they sent us with lots of bits of paper saying where we needed to go. We went to get my blood test over with first as I was really nervous about it but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Then I went for an x-ray and bending film. After lunch I had a nerve conduction study where they put little electrodes on your head and some on your arms and legs to tests your nerves. Next was my ECG to check my heart they put stickers around my chest and then put electrodes on the ends of them. I then had some pre-op photographs taken. I also had spirometry done to check my lung function.

Admission day 29th January Queens Medical Centre
I went into hospital the day before my surgery. We went to the spinal ward and they showed me to a side room I would be staying in for that night. I put all my cards and presents from friends and family on the windowsill. We waited for a while and then a nurse came in to sign me in and I had to answer lots of questions. Then I signed the consent form saying I agreed to have the surgery, which was scary! The anaesthetist came in to tell me about all the I.v.s and things that would be on me when I woke up. She went through what they would do if I needed extra blood. I also had an echocardiogram done. Then we just had dinner at the restaurant, which wasn’t too good really and my Dad went to a room he was staying in. My Mum stayed with me in the side room during the night. She plaited my hair so it didn’t get in the way. I didn’t get much sleep because I was very nervous and scared. My Mum couldn’t sleep either so we talked for ages. The ward was very noisy too!

Day 1- Surgery Day! 30th January Queens Medical Centre
Somehow I managed to drift off and soon the nurses came to wake me up at 6:30am. I got up had a shower with anti-bacterial scrub and got dressed into the hospital gown and horrible paper pants! Then the Technician came and put the electrodes on my head, she was very nice and the same lady who had done it at my Pre-op. My Dad came at 7:00am. At 7:30am it was time for me to go down to theatre I was pushed down on my bed and took my favourite teddy with me. We spoke to Mr.Sell briefly and then went into the anaesthetists’ room. When I was put to sleep I felt dizzy and like everyone was getting further away. I came back at 2:00pm but I don’t remember this my Mum wrote everything down. I had a central line in my neck, arterial line in my wrist, 2 peripheral lines in my hand, (drip and morphine), pulse oximetre and a catheter. I was observed hourly. But I don’t remember any of recovery. I was moved into the Paediatrics (Children) HDU and I remember waking up and seeing my Mum and Dad sitting by my bed, I spoke a little but kept falling asleep. I was very thirsty and kept having small sips of water. When my Mum and Dad went to one of the parent’s rooms there at 11:00pm I kept on asking when they were coming back. I asked this every time the nurses turned me over or checked on me. It seemed like they were gone for ages but it was only a few hours so they could get some sleep!

Day 2- Saturday
I was moved to the HDU on the Spinal Ward, the ride was bumpy and painful. All the monitoring continued hourly. I started to drink water a bit. The morphine helped with the pain but made me sleepy and itchy. I couldn’t move myself so I had to be turned by the nurses and my Mum or Dad. The Physio came to check my chest and breathing. I started to get a temperature too.

Day 3-Sunday
I still felt pretty bad on Sunday. I had a tiny bit of toast but really didn’t feel like eating. The Physio sat me on the end of the bed and I felt really dizzy. My Nan and Grandad came to visit me but I didn’t really feel like visitors. The drip was stopped because I was drinking well. I asked for my mobile phone and my Mum thought I must have been getting better! I had a couple of temperatures so the nurses turned on a fan.

Day 4-Monday
On Monday the line in my neck was taken out, it was really annoying because every time I moved my head it hit me in the face! And the oxygen was stopped. Today I was moved into a side room of my own which was big and quieter as it was at the end of the other side rooms. I managed a little bit of toast, ham sandwich and some chocolate buttons. It hurt when I moved and I still had the morphine pump. But I could move over with minimal help! It was snowing so I didn’t have any visitors.

Day 5- Tuesday
I felt sick on Tuesday and had bad pain in the morning. My mouth felt horrible and I had a sore throat so I was prescribed with a mouthwash. I was very sleepy during the morning. The Physio came in the afternoon but I only managed to sit up on their first visit because it really hurt and I was dizzy. The Physios came the second time and I managed to stand up and side step to the end of the bed! Physios were called Mike and Matt. I had the morphine pump taken out. My Auntie, Uncle and cousin came to see me and gave me a little elephant in a dressing gown and slippers and some chocolate. But I didn’t feel very good.

Day 6-Wednesday
On Wednesday I felt a lot better, I had pain in the in morning but I was OK after I had the oral morphine. I wasn’t sick either. I had the catheter taken out, went to the toilet and had to use a commode, as I wasn’t really walking yet. Mr.Sell came in early and needed me to have an x-ray. I still did not want to eat much but I’d noticed I had gone very skinny. I was really fed up of not walking and Mum was getting a bit stressed so I stood up and walked to the door and was able to walk to the toilet in my room!

Day 7-Thurday
I slept for 5 hours solid! But I was very stiff after but felt better. I also had my first shower today! Mum did my hair, which felt really nice! I fell back to sleep after. I walked down the ward with the Physio and sat in a chair for the first time! The nurse came to change my dressing to a smaller one, which felt better! Mum said my scar looks good. Went down to x-ray in a wheelchair very bumpy. I had to stand for a while and I hadn’t really eaten much so nearly fainted! I was taken back on a trolley.

Day 8- Friday
I slept for 5 hours again but I wasn’t as stiff and I felt fine. I had really bad muscle pain that lasted for a couple of hours. Mr.Sell needed an x-ray done, so I had some food and went down again. The ride down was bumpy and painful again. Managed the x-ray this time. Mr.Sell saw them and was very pleased with the positions of the rods and screws. We think the pain is related to muscle spasm, which should settle over the next few weeks. I had the Physio in the evening and walked to the end of the ward and out to the stairs. I climbed up and down the stairs it felt weird but the Physio was really impressed and said I can go home! I was very pale so I had a blood test to check I’m not anaemic. The staff are arranging my discharge!

Day 9-Saturday
I felt quite low today because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to go home. I was still worn out to. I got my blood test back and I was OK. I spoke to a girl called Harriet who’d had the surgery too; she was doing well and was going home today. I was so happy when I was told I could go home!!! I had a shower, which was easier than the first time. My Dad and little sister Lucy came to pick us up. We had to wait for ages for pain-meds! Finally I was wheeled to the door and went home. The car ride was bumpy but I fell asleep so it wasn’t too bad.

Recovery at home
I recovered at home quickly. I was very weak and pale, but felt better surrounded by my friends and family. I built up my appetite. Each week I looked back and thought I was doing something better that week like I walked for longer that day. I walked a bit further everyday. I found out I’d gained 2 inches! I felt really tall. I went back to school after just 4 weeks. I went part-time the first week and tried full the next but it was too much so I’m doing part-time. At my 6 weeks check-up I was allowed to swim and cycle. I was impressed with my back it looked amazing! My curves had been reduced dramatically from 70 degrees to about 15 degrees and 50 degrees to about 15 degrees! I’m so happy I went along with the surgery even though it was hard I did it and it’s made me a stronger happier person!

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