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In 2012, I had 2 operations back-to-back. It was an excruciating and grueling recovery. I was doing well until about 8wks post-op when I broke my back (T12 transverse process) in therapy. I spent another 10 days in the hospital and a month in an acute rehab facility. I was in a clamshell brace for over 8 months with no improvement. I underwent surgery #5 on 11/20/12 and required a 6th surgery on 11/24 due to serious complications. After spending another month in the hospital, I finally came home on 12/21/12. Recovery has been difficult and challenges seem to pop up whenever they get the chance. My most pronounced challenge are these terrible positional headaches that started in early 2013. I had a prior CSF leak in Nov 2012 however both the neurosurgeon and ortho surgeon believe it's occurring all over again as my brain MRI shows "clear & obvious indications of a CSF leak." I had at least 1/2 dozen consults with various specialists to determine what would be the best course of treatment and since bed rest hasn't worked, surgery is the only option left. Surgery #7 is full of unknowns regarding length of surgery, stay and recovery.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

5 Months Post-Op of Surgery #7

And doing AMAZINGLY well. I am now working 3-4 days a week as LEAD PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST in a long-term care facility for medically fragile infant, young children and teens, the large majority of whom are trach and ventilator-dependent or who have traumatic or acquired brain injury. I see such tragedy, truly of lives cut short, waaaay too short and it makes me stop and appreciate, REALLY appreciate my life, who I am, where I've been, the journey and paths I've traveled and how it has changed who I am - it has made me a better, stronger person for having lived through hell and worse only to come out, by the grace of God, on the other side. I am so blessed, my children and husband and I are so blessed to have one another and I am truly a miracle walking...I thank GOD every day for my life and I wouldn't change a thing in my life as it pertains to my scoliosis journey. It's not over yet. It never will be. I have terrible knee and kip pain and my lower back although fixed (as in, my back won't go "out" anymore) I still struggle every day to be 'normal' and to do 'normal' things. My children (ages 4 and 6) help ground me and they know all too well what the face of pain, REAL pain looks like because last year, they saw me at my worst. I truly believe that the worse is behind me and that from her on out, I can handle whatever is throw my way - because somehow, and only with God, I made it through 2012 alive and not paralyzed. We are stronger than we think, more resilient than we even know and more courageous than we believe. BELIEVE IN MIRACLES.

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