There was a time in elementary school when I was afraid to wear shorts. I waited until the last possible day to pull a pair out of my closet to wear to school. I was afraid people would look, I didn't want people to question them, they were just another thing that made me stand out in an average sized world. Now looking back, I realize how foolish I was. I have scars, in fact I have more scars now than I did back in elementary school. I don't try to hide them now, I wear shorts, dresses, bathing suits, etc. proudly. My scars are just a part of me.
The first set of visible scars I got when I was five years old. My right leg literally looked like the letter C it was so bowed. Bowed legs are common in dwarfs and are corrected through a procedure called an osteotomy. The specific osteotomy I received was on two bones that I don't remember the names of but they make up my calf. I received a cast, it was rainbow tie-dye and it was the most awesome cast ever made, and I wore that for a couple months. Once it was removed, I was left with four scars in my leg. Two of which were the result of the incisions made during the procedure. The other two resulted from a pin that was placed through my leg.
My second set came from my second osteotomy I received in seventh grade. A year before the surgery, I began complaining of left ankle pain. Every step was painful and three doctors, more braces than I can count and a boot, something had to be done. So instead of spending my thanksgiving with my extended family, I was in the hospital with a metal contraption that has a proper name but I will forever call it the ugly, metal, painful thingy sticking out of my leg. I wore this thing for a couple of months and I hated it. In the cast, I got a wheelchair and the uncomfortable part was that it was itchy. With ugly, metal, painful thingy I had to deal with cleanings which involved a lot of screaming, a lot of cursing and a lot of stinging (literally placing rubbing alcohol into an open wound). Yet even though I hated ugly, metal, painful thingy it did do its job and when it was removed I had no more pain. What I was left with were two scars left from incisions and four little holes where ugly metal thingy stuck out.
My scars remind me of my past and I'm proud of it. I wouldn't be the person I am today without the surgeries. I would rather have the scars than the pain any day of the week.
Toodles for now! Wish Tulane luck as we face off against LA tech tonight! Roll Wave!
-Jillian Ilana
No comments:
Post a Comment