Scoliosis Surgery... Day-by-day in the hospital.

[June 12th] - Night before the surgery

   Today is the day I was admitted to the hospital for my scoliosis surgery. My family and I realized surgery was necessary in October 2011 when we got a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon at this very hospital. I was diagnosed with a case of mild scoliosis when I was 8 1/2 years old by my pediatrician. Now, I'm patiently awaiting my surgery in the hospital room I will be staying in for the next week... but it doesn't even begin until tomorrow morning.

[June 13th] - Day of surgery

   I got up around 5:30 in the morning, showered with a special antibiotic solution, and waited for another few hours until a hospital bed on wheels rolled by my door to take me to the surgery room. I drank a horrible purple liquid called versed which made me fall asleep almost instantly. Before I knew it, I was in the recovery room attached to a machine via multiple IVs taped to my hands. I was so out of it that I didn't mind much. I relaxed for the rest of the day, met my new nurses, and pressed my trusty morphine pump whenever needed.

[June 14th] - 1st day after surgery

   Today was surprisingly not as bad as I expected, but still pretty painful. My nurse came in to teach me some lung strengthening techniques and I got to walk from my bed to the door with physical therapy, which made me feel a bit better. It was also the day I realized I had grown two inches, from about 5'6" to 5'8"! I could hardly believe it! 

   

[June 15th] - 2nd day after surgery

   Today was pretty tough... I was nauseous all day and could barely eat or move. My IVs began to make my hands swell and the doctor began prescribing me nausea medicine and calming medicine. The pains from swelling began to envelop my whole body and, as everything began to escalate, I knew that the worst was yet to come. 

[June 16th] - 3rd day after surgery

   I was sleeping on-and-off throughout the night. I woke up to the sound of the nurse coming in to check my vital signs and prick my finger, both of which have become uniform for me. Today they took the IVs out and I had to take pills instead. After, I got up with physical therapy and took a shower, which made me feel loads better. But because I could no longer press the morphine pump to get relief, my back pains grew even worse. My family came to visit for a little bit but I was in so much pain that I could barely speak to them. I slept most of the day away and woke up periodically, my back stinging. 

[June 17th] - 4th day after surgery

   Today I woke up to the doctor telling me to roll over onto my side, because he had to remove the dressing on my back and the staples.That caused me agony, but I was used to that by now. I was wheeled down to the x-ray room a few hours later and got that over with. My grandma and grandpa came to visit and told me how confident and aligned I looked as opposed to how I looked prior to the surgery.

[June 18th] - 5th day after surgery... day I go home!

   My surgeon came in that morning and said I had the all-clear to go home. My dad and sister came to pick us up and I sat in a reclined passenger seat with a pillow behind me. I had just taken my pain medicine, which made me feel better. This surgery caused me the most pain I have ever had to experience, but I knew it was necessary. On the ride home, I became aware of the fact that I was finally on the road to recovery. :)

Facing Your Fears 101

Fear. Everyone has their own. Whether be it fear of judgment , spiders, or even Two days ago, one of my very own fear was of roller coasters. Two days ago my school hosted a end-of-the-year to Islands of Adventure in Universal. I've gone to Islands before, in addition to other theme parks, however, every single time I would not face my fear of roller coasters... Always saying to myself, "Next time." However, THIS time I was absolutely determined to confront my fear upfront. I even arranged for several friends to literally drag me on if they had to, if I were to chicken out last minute. Thankfully, I did not chicken out, and the very first ride that we went on upon arriving universal was the notorious Hulk... One of my worst fears. Waiting in line was the most terrible part of the roller coaster; it raised my anxiousness and suspense level to the max. The ride itself was, in a word, Breathtaking. I was pushed against the seat as we shot off at 40 miles per hour in a mere two seconds. The dips, turns, and loops brought adrenaline pumping through my veins. If felt like as if I were flying! For a little over a minute I felt as free as a bird. After the ride ended, I could barely register what had just occurred. I left feeling dizzy, pumped, and wanting to go ride more coasters! I am so glad that I faced fear. Without me suspecting it, my fear had morphed into a pleasure. I am now a roller-coaster fanatic, and cannot wait until the next time I have the opportunity to ride more. All you who have read this, I implore you to at your next opportunity, face your own fear. You never w=know until you experience it. So, be yourself, stand up to those spiders, and ride the roller coaster. It is always better to try and know how you truly feel about something, than to spend your time wondering what it would be like. <3 , Karam