Prior to getting this repair done, I was always in pain and leaning mostly to the left because of my scoliosis. Before the scoliosis repair, my spine was so twisted that it was actually impeding my organs, which stunted my growth overall. I went through puberty later in life because of this issue. At times, I barely had enough air to speak because my lung capacity was not functioning properly. The pain was severe, but the surgery had to be done. We were at the hospital for joint diseases at NYU for 10 weeks. August 18, 2017 was my sugery date.

Recovery took 18 months. During that time, I was homeschooled and still considered a student at Middletown High School, where I ultimately graduated in 2018. Those 18 months included recovery, physical therapy at home, and continued therapy when I returned to the school building. During gym class, the therapist would come in and work with me and it just so happened to be right where the cheerleaders were practicing which is a plus. Physical therapy and occupational therapy were both done during that period, allowing me to stay on track with school while healing.

I now have pins from the top of my neck all the way down my spine to keep it straightened. During bad weather, unlike many people who have hardware in their bodies and experience increased pain when it rains and snows, I do not have that issue. I also have a baclofen pump that numbs the nervous system to help alleviate pain and spasticity. Because of this, I don’t need additional pain medications.

It is honestly beautiful now that I’ve had this repair, and I do not regret getting it at all. I don’t want to use any other medication, nor do I need it, because of the surgery and the baclofen pump. Before all of this, I took a lot of medication, including tramadol, and I was fortunate to be spared from any negative side effects. Today, my quality of life is something I once couldn’t imagine having.