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  • 10 year anniversary!

    Hey friends.

    Today is a very special day for me. 10 years ago on this 10th day of November I was going in for my scoliosis surgery. I can't believe it has been 10 years!!!

    In celebration of my 10 year mark, I got a tattoo last friday right next to my scar. I got the words "grace like rain" (http://twitpic.com/35mpmv). These words are lyrics from a version of Amazing Grace, and the title of a song I wrote as well. It is also my middle name (grace). I wanted to get these words tattooed on my back because I truly feel like God's grace brought me through my surgery, and the recovery, and is a huge part of life living with a fused spine!

    As I have mentioned before I am a singer/songwriter and I have a song that I wrote about my journey with scoliosis called "This Scar." I am currently in the midst of recording my first full length album and this song will be on it. Since it's not completely finished, I wanted to share with you the video I made two years ago of the song on my youtube channel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GFUvQG-7ks

    Anyways I just really wanted to share this with you guys because it feels like a big day and I thought you all would understand. My friends & family celebrate with me, but don't TOTALLY get it. Every other year I pretty much let the day pass without even remembering it's significance, but not this year!

    Hope you're all doing really well!

    Thanks.
    lisanicolegrace
    29/F/Canada
    Surgery - 11/10/2000
    80° curve to 19° post op.
    www.lisanicolegrace.com
    @lisanicolegrace
    facebook
    x-rays
    picture of my back

  • #2
    First, CONGRATULATIONS on your 10 year anniversary!

    Second, you are a beautiful and talented young woman and I thank you for sharing your song with me through the forum...it brought tears to my eyes...

    Favorite line of your song "it's okay to be scared, as long as you're prepared to learn how strong you are"....

    I hope my scar looks as good as yours does... some day :-)
    Kathy
    46 yrs at surgery, now 50
    71 degree thoracolumbar curve corrected to 34 degrees
    8/2/2010 surgery with Dr. Lenke

    posterior T9 to sacrum with pelvic fixation

    4 osteotomies and 1 cage
    http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/...athK_08022010/

    Comment


    • #3
      Happy Anniversary!!!

      TEN YEARS is certainly a milestone worthy of reflection and celebration!!!!

      Have an amazing day!!!!!
      Fused T-3 to L-3, Aug 25
      Hardware removal surgery, Nov 2, 2010
      Fused T-10 to L-2, osteotomy, Feb 22, 2011

      Comment


      • #4
        That’s great, Lisa. I can’t even see your scar. You are one very talented young lady.

        Comment


        • #5
          Wow, Lisa Nicole, thank you for sharing this, and congratulations on your milestone!

          The song, and your voice, are beautiful, and brought me to tears. You are right that no one else really "gets it", and even I don't...yet...but I will when the time comes. Let us know when your CD is out.

          And even though I haven't had surgery yet, I have scars inside from nine years with a Milwaukee brace, and my scoliosis has in many ways defined my life. Which now inspires me to start another thread on that question.

          Thank you.
          Stephanie, age 56
          Diagnosed age 8
          Milwaukee brace 9 years, no further treatment, symptom free and clueless until my 40s that curves could progress.
          Thoracolumbar curve 39 degrees at age 17
          Now somewhere around 58 degrees thoracic, 70 degrees thoracolumbar
          Surgeon Dr. Michael S. O'Brien, Baylor's Southwest Scoliosis Center, Dallas TX
          Bilateral laminectomies at L3 to L4, L4 to L5 and L5 to S1 on April 4, 2012
          Foramenotomies L3 through S1 in August 2014

          Comment


          • #6
            Lisa,
            Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary. Thanks for sharing your beautiful song.
            Karen

            Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
            Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
            70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
            Rib Hump-GONE!
            Age-60 at the time of surgery
            Now 66
            Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
            Retired Kdgn. Teacher

            See photobucket link for:
            Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
            Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
            tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
            http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

            Comment


            • #7
              Thanks!

              Thanks for your kind words everyone! I have appreciated the continuous support from this forum. You're all amazing!

              xo
              lisanicolegrace
              29/F/Canada
              Surgery - 11/10/2000
              80° curve to 19° post op.
              www.lisanicolegrace.com
              @lisanicolegrace
              facebook
              x-rays
              picture of my back

              Comment


              • #8
                "Happy Anniversary"! it's a big milestone. I'm inferring you had your surgery at 17. How old were you when you were diagnosed? Did you wear a brace before surgery?

                It's a great song...so nice to hear someone put into words the thoughts and feelings that many on this board can relate to.

                Definitely let us know when the album is released!
                daughter, 12, diagnosed 8/07 with 19T/13L
                -Braced in spinecor 10/07 - 8/12 with excellent in brace correction and stable/slightly decreased out of brace curves.
                -Introduced Providence brace as adjunct at night in 11/2011 in anticipation of growth spurt. Curves still stable.
                -Currently in Boston Brace. Growth spurt is here and curves (and rotation) have increased to 23T/17L

                Comment


                • #9
                  Nice to hear that things are fine....

                  Friends and family might not understand but we do. And its perfectly fine if they don’t, just go on celebrating every day.

                  Ed
                  49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                  Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                  ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                  Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                  Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                  http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                  My x-rays
                  http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                  http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Congratulations on your ten year anniversary. Your song is beautiful!
                    Chris, Austin, TX
                    age:58
                    80 degree thoracic/36 degree lumbar curves
                    Surgery 8/2/10, Anterior Cervical Decompression/Fusion
                    C4/5, C5/6, C6/7
                    New Surgery date 10/25/2010, T-2 to Pelvis, posterior
                    Dr. Matthew Geck, Seton Spine and Scoliosis Center

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Wow Lisa, that's great! Love the song and the tattoo!

                      another Lisa
                      Age 56
                      Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
                      Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
                      Thoracic 68
                      Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
                      Dr Bridwell St Louis
                      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by jillw View Post
                        "Happy Anniversary"! it's a big milestone. I'm inferring you had your surgery at 17. How old were you when you were diagnosed? Did you wear a brace before surgery?
                        Hey Jill,

                        I wore a back brace for 6 or 7 years before I had surgery. A dance teacher noticed my scoliosis when I was around 10 or 11. My sister (three years older than me) also had scoliosis but she had stopped growing so it wasn't progressing. I did have my surgery at 17, in my senior year at highschool! Missed a few months but did a lot of prep so I wouldn't be held back.

                        Thanks for the nice words!
                        lisanicolegrace
                        29/F/Canada
                        Surgery - 11/10/2000
                        80° curve to 19° post op.
                        www.lisanicolegrace.com
                        @lisanicolegrace
                        facebook
                        x-rays
                        picture of my back

                        Comment

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