Personal Narrative: Appendix Surgery

In 2014 it was a hot friday summer night, I was at my friends house about to go to see some type of scary movie at Spartan 16. But, then I felt this shooting pain to the right side of my abdomen. At first I did not think anything of the pain. I let the pain drag on for a little while at the movies, but then it felt like someone was stabbing me on the right side of my abdomen and I could not take the pain anymore. I called my dad crying so hard that he could tell something was seriously wrong. He knows I am normally a person to have very high pain tolerance. My dad rushed from whatever he was doing to come pick up from spartan 16. He finally got to me and rushed me to the Pelham Hospital ER.

It was Wednesday morning, 6:30am, and yes I had to go to school. I remember calling and begging, asking if I could take the day off, but mom wasn’t having any of it, so I had to get ready. The pain was gone, which I was fortunate about, but I still felt ill. I hopped into the shower, washed up, and when I got out I collapsed. White light again, but this time it was all I could see. I closed my eyes. I was on the floor, unable to move. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally opened my eyes. I went straight to my bed, and fell asleep. I woke up a mess, and felt worse than before. I looked at my phone, and saw at least six hundred missed called from mom. I called her, fearing for what was to come. “WHERE ARE YOU? WHY DIDN’T YOU GO TO SCHOOL?” She screamed. “I’m at home. I didn’t go to school because I feel worse than before. I really need to go to the hospital.” I whimpered. She told me that we’ll go when she comes back from work, and I agreed. Back to sleep I went. I wake up to my mom rushing into my room. She signaled to get ready by moving her head quickly forty-five degrees to the left. I got ready to leave, and we left at around

March 15th, 2010, was a completely normal day. As normal as any day is for a twelve year old homeschooler. I was home with my oldest sister Brittany who was twenty at the time and I was just finishing up my homework for the day. After finishing up my math work I went to go watch television in the living room. Brittany was in her room and my parents didn't get home until later because of work. A few hours into my movie, my stomach started to hurt. Since I was twelve I didn't no the differences of pain so I just left it alone for a while. Later in the day my abdomen was aching so much I couldn't even get off the couch. After wailing for Brittany to call Mom I was sent to the emergency room in an ambulance with severe abdomen pain. After several hours in the ER and multiple tests, doctors found nothing. I was sent home and was told to take Tylenol for the pain. Once I got home, it didn't hurt anymore so I thought they were right and that I could just go on with my crazy life as a twelve year old. I was wrong. Two months after, I got the same

The day after the surgery was just as bad as the day of the surgery. I was wheel chaired out of the hospital, and I felt tired, groggy, exhausted, and overall just terrible. On the car ride home my heart was hurting a lot and I was having a lot of irregular issues with my heart. I was having more panic and anxiety attacks. The incision wounds partly reopened so that was really scary. This experience changed me quite a bit and not in a good way. It was one of the worst experiences in my life. It has made me constantly worry about my heart and health. I have really bad anxiety when it comes to my heart. Or anything for that matter. I am always worrying about my heart. This experience changed the way I felt about surgery and what people go through. I dislike surgery so

Both surgeries were excruciating; however, I listened to praise music and endured. There were some complications. One of which was I had a bad allergic reaction to a medication given to me by the second anesthetist. Miranda was the one who figured out which medication it was and helped me. Honestly, I have little memory of the two weeks I spent in Maryland and prefer to not dwell on them. My daughter Miranda carried me through the storm. She fought with faith at every turn and refused to let me go. Kevin, my parents, Mary, and Alan were there as well. Love surrounded me. Once, I was home I thought the worst was over. But, I was wrong. Night after night I woke up screaming for help in pain and found it very difficult to eat anything. I could swallow frozen ice drinks, but that was about it. I thought it was from the pain of the incision in the front of my neck and would simply heal with time; however, I was

Post-surgery was the most difficult part of this journey because it put me in a depressed state. The inability of playing sports and watching my teammates play

was so bad that I was puking and everything. So I came here [name of first hospital], and

Before the surgery, I wore a chest binder. It was so uncomfortable, that I would choose to head home and recover, rather than truly live. I got used to a life in pain, keeping me from my potential in all things. Now, I can spend my time in any way I choose, and I choose to reflect and change.

Before the surgery, never have I ever believed in my abilities or my beauty. In other words, my confidence never shift above zero since I constantly compared myself to every other person borned in America. I empathize everybody problem, but never have I empathize my own troubles. The surgery numbness side-effects from the surgery and the intolerable pain made me realize being different and unique to myself is far more important than trying to compete with other people. Although my growth flourish later than others, self acceptance helped me to develop selfishness for I grow more confidence communicating with other people besides my family members.

The surgery I had was a pretty major surgery some could say, four though six hours and it's compared as open heart surgery. It wasn't the surgical pain though that caused me to stay there longer then i was supposed to no, it was some kind of nerve pain that even the doctors and nurses had know idea what to do. My case was so uncommon they sent me into ICU after fives days of being in pain two hours three times a day. Not knowing what to do the nurses would just shoot me up with a bunch of drugs just to calm down the pain and all I could do was watch as this was all happening while gasping for air.

Finally, the pain became too much, I felt like I was going to pass out. I then slowly raised my hand and told Mr. Reynoso that I felt really sick suddenly and had to go home. I used a phone from the office to tell my parents my dilemma and asked to bring me home. They were reluctant at first, but after some convincing, my

I am very lucky to have the oppertunity to have learned and gained the knowledge and information from the dietician and exersise program and all the information Wanda gave us in the initial class to help assist and continue my journey with the surgery. I understand the surgery is just a tool I am responsible for helping this tool work . If I fail this tool will Fail.And I will not fail. I want a new healthy life more than anything. I want to live. Live for me and my family I want to run and play with my baby I want to show and teach my kids how to live a healthy life so they will not have to battle as I have had

In the middle of July, while in Dallas, Texas, I had a basketball tournament. I had been feeling a sharp pain in my stomach but did not pay it any attention, thinking it was just cramps I had just forgot about. But the pain began to increase and get worse. I had taken painkillers,

You are now in the recovery room.” A nurse said. I assume I had a weird and confused look on my face. I was hungry and very sore. “Would you like a Sprite and some crackers?”

The day of the surgery, anxiety churned my stomach and set my thoughts spiraling. Suppose they’ll find out something really devastating, like I have cancer. I prayed a simple prayer that God’s peace would cover me, and as soon as I prayed I felt His peace wash over me in a way that is hard to explain.