Surgery....yet again

August 9th at 6:00 a.m. I was admitted into Shriner's Hospital for the final surgery (thank goodness).

This surgery was for spinal fusion. I wasn't too nervous, just ready to get it done. My surgery started at 8:30 and was finished at 2:30.

So after 6 hours of hard work from surgeons the surgery was complete.  I came out 3 inches taller and 49 degrees less curvature.

The results were amazing and a lot better than I expected. Honestly it is a bit weird to see my back so straight.  I am just used to having a hump on the side of my back and being all lopsided.  But it is great to be much straighter.

They had me sitting up in a chair the second day and walking the third day.  That was not fun, to say the least. 

I was released from the hospital the 9th day.  For the last time. :)

So my time at Shriner's Hospital is over.  I have spent enough time there and am glad that this is all over.

But thank you Shriner's Hospital for all you did for my family and me.  I don't know what I would've done if I couldn't have gotten my operation there. Most likely be at home with a 69 degree scoliosis, worrying about how we could pay for my operations.  So thank you for changing my life and helping me grow and learn about myself , others, and the world as a whole.  I will never be able to tell you enough how thankful I am.  But I am just so thankful.

Just a few memories from the hospital:

all my visitors

blacking out when they sat me up for the first time

crying for water in i.c.u. (my stomach wasn't awake enough to drink but i was so thirsty.)  the nurses would just rub the inside of my mouth with a wet swab.  It was horrible.

always wanting to sleep. that is basically all i did.

always forgetting that i had a morphine pump in i.c.u.  i would forget that i could control the meds myself.

So I do have a lot more memories obviously but those were just a few I wanted to share. 

I am now just trying to recover as quickly as possible.  I am feeling pretty good, I just don't have much energy.  My back is still pretty sore but hey....better sore than really crooked.

I am so glad to have the surgery behind me. Once this year is done, I will be back to myself and will be able to do basically anything. Well except skydive, jumping on trampolines, and bull riding.  But you get my point. I really am so proud that I was able to survive my surgery and get through all the hardest times.

Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support.  I couldn't have done it without all my friends and family right there with me.