2 years ago today I got Scoliosis surgery

02 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, God, Scoliosis, time

Tags

encouragement, God, joy, prayer, Scoliosis, scoliosis surgery, surgery

It’s been two years since surgery. That’s very hard for me to understand. It seems like just yesterday I got the surgery and yet forever ago. The first year and a half was lost in a time warp. I know young people heal quickly from Scoliosis surgery but for older folks like me, it took a long time, especially since my back was broken and damaged even before the surgery. The past couple months have been very very good and I’m glad I got the surgery! Life is good and getting better all the time. =)

I don’t have any photos to share today but I will share here…
A Prayer of Thanksgiving.

Thank you, God, for this time in my life. It hasn’t been easy recovering the past couple years but you have been with me through it all. I remember the night a couple months after surgery and the pain was so great that I couldn’t sleep. I asked you if I could fall asleep in your palm and I fell asleep instantly. Many nights after that I would pray “Can I please fall asleep in your palm tonight?” and not ten seconds passed when I was asleep, even despite the piercing pain. You are amazing, God. Thank you for the comfort.

Thanks, God for helping me not panic. The times I lay there looking at the ceiling and couldn’t move without assistance, the times when I couldn’t move my arms, the times when I thought I would break all over again. But I didn’t and you calmed me down and let me know that it was ok to just rest. It was ok to not move. It was ok for weeks to go by and seasons to pass. Thank you for the calm that covered my spirit.

Thank you, God for letting my husband and sons be so amazing. You knew I didn’t have parents or sisters nearby. You knew it was just me and the boys. Thank you for all that encouragement and loving patience from my sons. They were amazing! Thank you for the two years of cooking they did. Thank you for their diligence in picking things up from the floor and getting things out of cupboards for me and moving stuff when I needed it. God, they gave up so much to take care of me. Thank you for their huge hearts, their abundant energy and their unstoppable encouragement. Thank you for their laughter. Bless them over and above what they gave away.

Thank you, God, for always thinking kind thoughts toward us. We mess things up so much. Thank you for giving us order when there is chaos and direction when we’re lost. Thank you for helping us when we make stupid mistakes. God, I made a really stupid mistake when I didn’t seek medical attention when my back broke. We humans truly are bleating sheep sometimes. Thank you for guiding us and steering us in the right direction.

God, I love living on this earth. Even with disability, I LOVE being here. There are beautiful people here. The heartbeat in this world is beautiful and worth sustaining. Please forgive us when we have a “broken back” and don’t seek the right solution, when we try to fix things on our own. Please help us go through the hard times to get to the better times, the times that you planned for us. Thank you for being incredibly patient with us all.

And God, thank you so much for letting me be able to walk.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today and One Year Ago Today

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in home decor, Inspirational, lighting, Scoliosis, sunlight, time, Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

arch windows, inspirational, one year ago, one year ago today, painting, renovation, Scoliosis, scoliosis surgery, sunlight, surgery

One year ago today I had scoliosis surgery. I had an 18″ incision and two titanium rods inserted the entire length of my spine.
Today I put masking tape around the trim of the new windows.

One year ago, my back was fused from T1 to pelvis. I could barely move.
Today I stretched high as I worked.

One year ago the bolts in almost every vertebrae and four in my pelvis made me unable to move without assistance.
Today I gathered supplies and worked on the major renovation.

One year ago, my hands shook as I pressed the morphine button.
Today I firmly held the paintbrush and stroked the smooth white paint over the trim.

One year ago, the nurse kept telling me to open my eyes. I had trouble staying awake and the pain seemed less severe when my eyes were shut.
Today the afternoon sun streamed through the wall that had never had a window before.

One year ago, I could barely handle the next minute. Recovery seemed impossible. I couldn’t sit up. I felt shattered but glad the surgery was over.
Today I sat at my computer editing photos. Today I mopped the floor. Today I washed dishes and dusted and painted.

If things seem dark today, don’t despair. Amazing things can happen in a year.

Picking up the Carving Tools Again

27 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Julia Monroe in crafts, Inspirational, Scoliosis, woodwork

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

carving, gouges, surgery, wood spoon, wooden spoon

It has been months since last I carved.

I am slowly recovering from October’s grueling surgery. Most days I have to sit very still, my back held against a heating pad. But today, despite the pain in my back, I just had to pick up the gouges to work on the old spoon. Handling the wood and gripping the smooth handle of the gouge felt so right. I was comforted.

Grapes and wheat wind around the wood spoon handle.

The wood spoon was buried in a box for months, unfinished.

It felt good holding the wood, gripping the gouge.

Just because something is put away for a long time, even months or years, doesn’t mean it’s gone. When the time is right, it will happen. Be patient. Be at peace while you wait.

9 Weeks Post – Op

05 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, Christmas, home decor, lighting, Scoliosis

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Christmas decor, Christmas lights, Scoliosis, surgery

I’m returning from far away. It is now 9 weeks since my Scoliosis surgery. The recovery got worse before it got better. Weeks went by and I curled up and disappeared and the pain crashed over me and fell down as tears as I lay immobile on my back.

This past week, Week Nine, was a miracle. I went from spending 90% of my day lying flat on my back to 90% of the day sitting up and standing and working with my hands. Last week I couldn’t even move my arm to write a Thank You note without intense pain. This is what we did today.

God was with me before and He goes ahead of me. When I was immobile God taught me beauty in the pain and my peace remained with me. But now I am emerging from that strange time.

I am still in great pain but I am getting strong. As I stood in the dining room and looked at the lights we put up today, I cried. But this time, the tears weren’t from pain, they were from a thankful heart.

Now that I can hold my camera, I shall be posting again. I’ve missed being able to share with you all. Thank you so much for your patience.

Three Weeks post-op Scoliosis Surgery

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by Julia Monroe in family, Scoliosis, Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Eiffel Tower, Paris, Scoliosis, scoliosis surgery, spine, surgery

Also subtitled – How I swallowed an Eiffel Tower.

Today marks 3 weeks since my Scoliosis Surgery on October 2nd. It has taken every minute of those three weeks to get to this point where I can sit at my computer long enough to make this short post.

I am doing well. God cares about every tiny wrinkle in our lives, such as the tiny ones in the back our our shirts. As I lay in bed, unable to change positions without assistance and a lot of pain medication, even a tiny wrinkle in the back of a shirt feels like lying on a boulder. God smoothed out my wrinkles when no one was there and I’ve been resting well in knowing I’m never alone.

My family and friends have been wonderful! I have more encouragement, smiles and joy than steri-strips on my back! Love, Love, LOVE, the beautiful people in my life. <3

Here is my post-op x-ray.

My Scoliosis surgery – 29 bolts and rods from neck to pelvis.

29 bolts, from neck all the way into my pelvis. It was a huge surgery. I get a huge kick out of thinking I have an Eiffel Tower inside. God knows how much I love art and artistic things so I’m thrilled that even my x-ray looks cool, as though the metal was intended to look like an Eiffel Tower all along. I’m planning on making a wall art piece inspired by both my x-ray and the Eiffel Tower, complete with sparkling lights. Perhaps next year I’ll work on it. Must lie down now… happily thinking of a trip to Paris some day.

Vintage Eiffel Tower postcard – beautiful postcard image by http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com .

Scoliosis and Keeping it Real

27 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by Julia Monroe in Scoliosis, Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

metamorphosis, Scoliosis, surgery

I love keeping things real. I love originality and crafts and working with my hands, honesty and sunshine. I love true love and sparkles inside and out and God. I love people who are genuine and aren’t afraid to show it. I love change and metamorphosis. So in keeping it Real, here is a photo of me.

Me, before Scoliosis surgery next week. This is what I look like when I stand as straight and tall as I can. I wear the wide, tight back brace 24 hours a day.

I have Scoliosis and my spine is one big old S. I don’t talk about it because I am not defined by my disability. I’m all about creativity and encouragement, choosing joy and sparkle. Scoliosis is something I have, not something I am. But the severity of my Scoliosis has slowly increased over the past five years and I can no longer ignore it. For those who are interested in the numbers, The curves are T5-T12 – 41 degrees; T12-L3- 47 degrees; Lumbar lordosis 54 degrees, thoracic kyphosis 49 degrees. I have been encouraged by reading how others get through Scoliosis surgery so I’m posting a little bit to encourage any older readers who are facing the same thing.

Back in July, I did a couple things wrong. I stretched while reaching for laundry and when I sat back down, my vertebrae settled wrong and crunched a disk. I knew it was bad but just put on a little back brace and kept on going. Two days later, I was outside taking photographs of a deer when it started to rain. I didn’t want my camera to get wet so I ran back to the house. I NEVER run. I haven’t run in over 20 years so I don’t know why I ran that day. I remember thinking “I’m running! I’m running!” and the wind on my face felt glorious and I wanted to run forever. The rush of oxygen through my veins and the pounding of my heart and muscles felt magnificent. At the end of my short run across the yard and up the steps, I remember stopping and suddenly thinking “That was a HUGE mistake!” and all the euphoria drained away as searing, burning pain exploded in me. I lost half an inch that day.

I apologize if this next photo makes you queasy; please scroll past the photo if you desire. This was my MRI taken 3 painful weeks after my accident.

Scoliosis MRI of lumbar area after my injury

In five days, surgery will completely change my life. On Tuesday, October 2nd, I will get a series of metal rods and bolts, some fusion and perhaps wires to stabilize and straighten my deteriorating spine. I’ll grow a couple inches in a day and a whole new world of options awaits me. I will be able to pursue all the dreams that have been held captive by pain the past couple years. I will create inventory for my Etsy Shop and have a grand opening. I’ll be more involved with my church. I will pursue photography because I won’t fear the weight of camera gear or getting into positions to capture the perfect angle. I will travel to Japan and Italy. Perhaps I’ll go back to college to finish my degree or pursue a career in baking and catering. And I will RUN.

Thank you, dear readers, for bearing with me as I go through this metamorphosis. I will write as often as I can. Please don’t ever stop sparkling and sharing your joy with others. Sometimes all it takes is a smile to completely change someone’s day. Go for it!

Love you all.

Scoliosis

05 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, Gilded Girls, Inspirational, Scoliosis, sparkling

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

bling, bracelet, Gilded Girls, Scoliosis, sparkling, surgery

Before getting into the Scoliosis part, it’s true: My life IS all sparkled up! Every day I’ve got bling going on.

Bling in the mail…
My amazing daughter surprised me with this package the other day, a Grace Notes box of gorgeous craft supplies from Gilded Life.

Grace Notes box of sparkling craft supplies, from Gilded Life.

Luscious velvet, beaded trims, pearl-studded flowers…

Oh my goodness, I don’t know what sparkled more – the rhinestone chain, sequins and velvet sheen or the tears in my eyes. She knows me so well! ♥

Bling at the dining room table…
My adorable granddaughter and I did some painting. I taught her how to carefully drop one drop of water into each pan of watercolor.

My granddaughter uses an eyedropper to place one drop of water in each watercolor pan.

Then we painted flowers and a blue river. We were all sparkled up in our spirits as we painted together on the page.

Flowers, painted by my granddaughter and me.

My craft table (which suddenly turns into a dining room table when we scrape off the thick layer of “studio” from every surface) is all blinged…
This bracelet was created from a Gilded Life kit back in February.

Valentine’s Bracelet, made from a kit from Gilded Life. I have the chain suspended from a cardboard platform so I can add the charms without it getting twisted.

You’re probably wondering why the subject is Scoliosis but the posts are all sparkled up. If I went to a website called “All Sparkled Up” I would expect the posts to be just that! But while all this blinging and sparkling is going on, I must confess I’ve got a serious back issue – Scoliosis that has progressed to the point of needing major surgery, not an easy undertaking for a 53 year old. The date is set for September 25th and I seriously can’t wait! But I am not my disease; Scoliosis is just something I have, not who I am. Sparkling is something I like to believe people can actually BE. And I like to think that nothing can stop sparkling, not even migraines or Fibromyalgia or Scoliosis.

I’ll be posting about my progress from time to time but only if the posts can be all sparkled up, through color or art, humor or joy, light and truth. I doubt the doctors can use rhinestone-studded bolts in my back but it’s a very nice thought indeed. Wink!