MY STORY
It is 15 years since I sat on the edge of my bed in St James’s Hospital the night before the first of two major operations to straighten my twisted spine. I was frightened and tearful. "Why did it have to happen to me?" I asked my mum. She tried hard to make me see the positive side of things. She reminded me that in the past I would have had to live forever with the deformity but I was lucky because now there was someone who could do something about it. That someone was Professor Dickson and I will be forever grateful to him and his team for totally transforming my life. I was 13 when I was first diagnosed with scoliosis. Over the next two years the condition worsened and I developed an ugly hump on my back. My close friends were sympathetic and understanding but as you might expect there was the odd taunt in the playground which made me feel like a freak. I became shy and introverted and took to wearing baggy T-shirts and jumpers to hide the hump. I couldn’t imagine ever being able to wear skimpy, fashionable clothes, go to university, have boyfriends and one-day marry and have a family. But thanks to Prof I have done all those things and more including the wedding of my dreams in a mediaeval castle in the beautiful hills of Tuscany last year. For what he gave me above all when he straightened my back was the confidence I had previously lacked to face life head on and live it to the full. It wasn’t an easy fix. Having such major surgery at such a young age was pretty traumatic and there were times during the early days after each operation when I wondered whether it was worth all the pain and discomfort. Being hooked up to all those machines in the High Dependency Unit was scary and I’ll never forget the stress of those endless xrays, having to remain flat on my back and immobile throughout the week between operations and having to wear a rigid plastic jacket for several weeks afterwards. There was also quite a lengthy convalescence period before I was strong enough to return to school and get back on track. But I will also never forget the warmth, skill and dedication of the wonderfully caring nursing staff on the children’s ward which was home to me for almost a month and the frequent, cheering visits from Prof, a God-like figure to hospital staff but more like a reassuring uncle to his young patients. He made each of us feel really special. At the time I don’t think I fully understood the implications of not having the operations. But as I have grown up they have become increasingly clear and looking back I have absolutely no doubt that it was all totally worth it. Prof assured me the steel rod in my back would not prevent me from leading a normal life, including pregnancy and childbirth. He has been proved right on all counts. I’m not sure I totally believed him about pregnancy as my back is a bit on the weak side and I have problems lifting and carrying heavy weights. I wondered how on earth I would carry and deliver a full-term baby. Would I be able to push or end up having to have a caesarian? But I sailed through my first pregnancy this year and delivered a bouncing 8lb 7oz baby boy – Louis Jai - without too much trouble. So thank you Prof and your wonderful team. I couldn’t have done it all without you.