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I Am A Shriners Kid

Where hope and healing meet.

Mar 28, 2016

Growing up you never imagine having a defect to your body, you don't imagine having cancer or being burned in a fire one day. We live our life hoping for the best of days. The realization is that in life there will be the best of days and there will be the worst of days...

When I was in 6th grade I found out I had an 11-degree curvature to my spine, I had scoliosis. When the nurse found out I had scoliosis she sent a letter home to my mom. My family and I were uncertain and scared. We didn't know what scoliosis was or how it started. We then started going to the doctor every year after that to get my back checked. I had to do CT scans and MRI's. A few years passed and it had only gotten worse, a lot worse. It was now at 54 degrees. I had been seeing a doctor out of Pensacola, FL where I lived. Being that I was young I was very picky with who my surgeon was going to be. A few years went by and I put off having surgery. I had lost hope. My back was only getting worse, I was crooked now.

It wasn't until I started being made fun of about my back that made me want to have the surgery. I wanted to be straight. When I found out I had scoliosis no one knew. As it got worse and worse people were starting to notice that something was different about my back. People started calling me "crooked" and making fun of my scoliosis. This hurt. This was something that not only I didn't want but was stuck with and could not help. I started researching and heard nothing but great things about the Shriners Hospital for Children. These nurses and doctors change people lives daily.

I made an appointment and went to the closest Shriners Hospital to me which was in Tampa, Florida. I met with my doctor and toured the hospital. It was the most welcoming hospital I had ever been in... It didn't even have that awful hospital smell. I met with my surgeon Dr. Cronen and we set a date for the surgery.

Months later the day had come and it was time for me to have spinal surgery. I was terrified but I knew in order to be normal again and be healthy I had to do it. I had to be brave. Dr. Cronen and his staff did the absolute best job and now I am a healthy 19-year-old that can surf, ride bikes, ride roller coasters or anything anyone else can.

I can be a normal healthy 19-year-old because of Dr. Cronen and because of Shriners Hospital for Children. So, thank you for helping me be a normal healthy kid again.

By donating you are helping a child reach their full potential.

http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/donate

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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I Am A Shriners Kid

Where hope and healing meet.

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All names should be "unisex names."

1. Communicating via email can be awkward.

2. Appointments usually accompany weird looks.

3. Introducing yourself to someone is never without a hitch.

4. You’ve probably thought about changing your name.

5. You’re often asked why you have the name you do.

6. You get excited when you meet someone of your gender with your name.

7. You feel awkward when you meet someone of the opposite gender with your name.

8. You’ve had someone say to you, “I knew a [your name], but they were [your opposite gender].”

9. You’ve heard a bad joke/pick-up line or two about your name before.

10. People are surprised when they see you.

11. You’re extra sensitive to other unique or unisex names.

12. You’ve fought with your parents about it.

13. All things considered, you’re happy your name makes you unique.

You know that all of these things apply to you. You'll just never tell.

I get it... I'm pale.

1. At least I can't lose you in a crowd!

2. Oh my goodness your skin is like glow-in-the-dark.

3. Can't you just get fake tan?

4. Do you tan or just burn?

5. Your kids are going to look like Casper the Friendly Ghost!

6. *holds arm against your arm* Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. *holds pale arm against another pale arm* Aw, at least you're darker than her!

8. I laid out by the pool almost every day over break!

9. I haven't used sunscreen since I was, like, five.

10. *adjusts selfie lighting to their face* Oops, where'd you go??

11. *after working out* Your face is SO red!

12. *wears white* Look! You're all one color!

13. You need to get some sun.

14. Aren't you excited for summer?

The struggle bus is real.

1. Child prodigies:

2. Hearing other musicians in the practice room next door and accepting that you will never be as talented as them:

3. That anxiety that takes over before every performance:

4. Taking a million 0 credit classes:

5. When there's a paper due the next day, but you have to attend yet another concert in order to pass a 0 credit class:

6. When your friends try to encourage you after a performance, even though you are criticizing everything in your mind:

7. Knowing that there's always that one professor during juries:

8. The oh-so-attractive band/choir uniforms:

9. Realizing that a college campus is maybe not the best atmosphere to finish your latest composition:

10. Hearing "Oh, you sing opera? I LOVE Phantom of the Opera!" for the hundredth time:

11. When people think finals week is a breeze for you.

12. When you're drowning in the stress that comes with 18+ credits (and not to mention all those 0 credit classes) and people ask you how you are:

13. When it all comes down to it, though, you know that at the end of the day, music is your passion:

Because you need it in your life.

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6. holds arm against your arm Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. holds pale arm against another pale arm Aw, at least you're darker than her!

10. adjusts selfie lighting to their face Oops, where'd you go??

11. after working out Your face is SO red!

12. wears white Look! You're all one color!