Scoliosis: An Experience That Changed My Life

This affected me in many ways, one way was that I couldn't play any of the summer sports I paid for and loved to play. Another way this challenge affected me was that I had to take all of my regents for my junior year on medication then after they wore off during the test it was hard for me too focus. Which is why my ACT score is so low because I took the ACT three days after my surgery and was in to much pain to focus, but by the time I retake the test some of the college essays are due. This event helped me learn that even though you feel fine that are always things that can happen to change that about you or somebody else. Before this event happened to me, I had already wanted to become a Physical Therapist, but this event made me want to become the Physical Therapists even more because now I know the pain and feelings of losing the things you love to do. After going to therapy I saw many people come in and out of the building with smiles on their faces knowing they will soon be back to the way they were. Seeing this made me also happy knowing that one day in the future, I would be putting smiles on peoples faces. This challenge helped me in many ways, but also challenged

My name is Rainee McDaniel and I am an 18 year old freshman at Texas State University. 1. My college experience is unlike any other because I am a quadriplegic. Quadriplegia is damage to the spinal cord around the area of one’s skull and neck, (Nathalie Smith, 2013). I can’t use any of my limbs, my arms and legs are basically useless to me. My wheelchair is what gets me around, I depend on it. (Józefowski, P., & Bolach, E) 1. There are many things I can’t do. I’m not given the opportunity to live that wild and crazy college life Nobody could even begin to understand what I go through on a daily basis, until they live it. “Quadriplegia involves paralysis of arms and legs” (Nathalie Smith, 2013), 4. I can’t even use the bathroom on my own.

My new illness completely flipped my world upside down. I went from being a three season athlete to not being able to play any sports at all due to my inflamed and sore joints. The pain often made it hard for me to go to school, which resulted in me falling behind in many classes. I struggled with the fact that this disease had completely changed everything and that I would carry it with me for the rest of my life. After letting this illness get the best of me for a few months, I finally realized that I needed to accept my diagnosis and start

Many people all around the world may come across symptoms of having scoliosis. Mostly girls from ages 10 to 16 get a curve of about 10 degrees. Scoliosis is the curvature of the spine and mostly occurs in adolescent years. Scoliosis may be identified during a physical examination by bending forward to see if your back is completely straight and if your shoulder blades are balanced. During my research process i found out that a lot of people at my school have scoliosis.

I walk into the cold, white hospital, my hands are sweating and my knees are shaking. Even though I have done this every six months since I was twelve years old, it never gets easier. I find a seat in the corner of the waiting room, embarrassed by the large, plastic, butterfly printed scoliosis brace I hold tightly against my side. The door opens, a nurse dressed in plain navy blue scrubs calls out “Emma for Dr. Meyers”. She leads my mom and me down a long hallway, and into a small, brightly lit room. The curse that is scoliosis is hereditary, which means my mom has it, and each of my sisters has been touched by this cruel disease that bends the spine as well. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that occurs during the growth period just before and through puberty.

It has been a growing journey that I am sure that many students have gone through. Perseverance has become my best friend in making it this far. I take pride on being in the top ten in my class, in being chosen by my principal to be part of the student advisory council in my school district, to be a leader in my school’s music program, in being president of the ambassadors of my school’s magnet program, and being accepted into the 2016 Youth Leadership Institute. It is without a doubt that I am going to be overcoming my mental health. Fear now has an off switch in my

April 21, 2016 the day my life changed forever, the day nothing would ever be the same again. To everyone else it was just another day they were living in. On this day I would have spinal fusion surgery to correct the 60 degree curve in my back with two rods, and twenty-four screws. Everything would change for me during my four hours of surgery. The way I walked, the way I appeared to everyone, I wouldn't have the same balance, and most importantly nobody would talk about me anymore. These were all things I had to deal with for two years. I’ve learned from it that I’m a stronger person for putting up with it, and not letting it get to me all the time. Even if some days were harder than other days.

The spine is one of the most important structures in the human body. The spine is located in the dorsal cavity and consists of 24 bones, called vertebrae. These vertebrae play a crucial role in protected the body’s command center, the spinal cord. But what happens when a disorder prevents the spinal column from functioning correctly? Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder that causes abnormal lateral curvature of the spine and it effects millions of people in the US per year. I have chosen this disorder because I am aspiring to become a chiropractor and scoliosis is a typical condition that chiropractors help treat on a daily basis.

On August 17, 2015 I started my senior year of high school. I had looked forward to this year since I was in eighth grade. I had always heard about how much freedom a senior in high school is given. I was working hard towards my academic goals. While at the same time, planning my future, enjoying the football games and extra-curricular activities. I was truly enjoying my senior year but the journey came to an abrupt halt on the morning of October 1, 2015 when I became ill.

About two months into scribing, I felt like this is where I belong, this was it. Since I was already enrolled in classes for the fall semester, I decided to start my new path in the spring, the path of becoming a Physician Assistant. My goal at the time was to work hard, take college serious and give back to the two people who brought me into this world, my parents. When I first attended college after high school I did not take it serious at all. I would use my time in college to hang out with my friends, I would tell myself I’m still young and in due time will get it all done. When I started my new path to become a Physician Assistant, I realized how important college was and from this point on would do what would be necessary to make up for lost time and poor grades. With me being human and not knowing what the future held, a turn of event took place in late summer of 2011. My parents were not getting along and decided to split

Although, this part of my life is over, there will always be lessons never to be forgotten. Now, I am 27 year old college student at Guilford Technical Community College with a full time job with one of the most successful companies in the state. My job is both challenging and rewarding, but it is not the dream I had before. Health and wellness has always been important to me. I am an avid natural bodybuilder and soon to be licensed personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Health has been a core theme in my life and will never be replaced. In some respect the last 10 years has led me to this career path. The persistence of a friend to get me to join the Gym when I felt all was lost developed a love that has never broken; my drive to make a difference in people’s lives when they asked me for my help in achieving their weight loss goal; and finally, a random suggestion of a client and friend to look into physical therapy as a career when deciding on a path after my

Learning to deal with everything happening in my life was an emotional experience. Mr. Ellis, my eight grade teacher taught me how to process difficult situations. “I saw you go up”, a message left in yearbook by Mr. Ellis. Feeling the genuine concern of the human relationship things began to change. In the ninth grade, my self-confidence started to grow and, I joined the track team. Although I never won a race my confidence blossomed. Weighing only 126 pounds did not prevent me from trying out for the football team. Although I was an undersized runt and did not have the skills to be a star football player, I enjoyed the feeling of being part of the team so much that for the next three years of high school, I got involved in many activities. I joined the wrestling team, the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and participated in the Advanced Career Training Program where my experiences continued to

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

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.

Scoliosis is a complex deformity or curvature of the spine and entire torso and has been recognized clinically for centuries (Asher, Marc A.). “For a few of the patients an underlying cause can be determined, including congenital changes, secondary changes related to neuropathic or myopathic conditions, or later in life from degenerative spondylosis. However, the cause of most scoliosis is not known and since about 1922 such patients have been diagnosed as having idiopathic scoliosis (Asher, Marc A.).”