u/Direct-Ad-245

Hello! I just wanted to tell you my story and share a couple of photos..

My mum has scoliosis and at that time in the 80s she said she had to wear a brace which was only to be taken off for an hour (or so) a day to get washed and have a little break! So when she had me and my sister she knew to look out for the early signs.

When I was aged 10, she had been noticing my left shoulder was higher than my right so she jumped through the many hoops with me to be referred to the hospital for X-rays and MRI scans. It was decided the operation was needed. After being placed on the waiting list for the operation, it was just a waiting game for that letter to come through the letterbox.

Finally, 8th July 2010. The date was set. Being 13 years of age, I didn’t really know what I was feeling. When I look back I’m surprised I wasn’t as scared as I probably should have been.

We were told that discharge from hospital is usually around 5-6 days and (if I remember rightly) the whole procedure would take around 4 hours. However, not for me. Around 7 hours. When they made the cut, my body decided to be a blood sprinkler and they told my mum that they gave me a transfusion with my own blood.

I struggled to sit in a chair for no longer than 2-3 minutes. Never mind the 20+ minutes they needed. This was because I was in a hospital nearly 3 hours from where I lived. I was discharged on the 10th day.

I’m now 29 and I will forever be grateful for the operation. From Aberdeen, Scotland

**the 1st photo is my before x-ray, the 2nd photo is my after x-ray and the 3rd photo is my back, showing my scar (which is barely visible) and the height difference of my shoulders**