Blog by Kate Meyjes

  • Reflecting On Two Years

    Today is December 16, 2023, which marks a little over two years since my scoliosis surgery. I am happy to say that scoliosis has not affected any part of my life this year. After my visit with my surgeon on December 8th, he said that even if my tether breaks I won’t have to worry…

  • Reflecting On One Year

    My “spinaversary”, as my parents like to call it, was December 14. No one remembered it (ironically) even though we always joke about it. I am lucky enough to say that for the most part, I am never in pain. My curve has increased to about 20 degrees however, but everything is going well and…

  • My New Perspective

    Besides changing my body, I believe that my surgery changed my perspective on life. I know that’s a really bold statement to say, but any “traumatic” incident can have that effect over you. I have known myself to be an extremely independent person. I lived by the mindset that I am going to get the…

  • Dealing with Parents

    Everytime I went to the doctor with my parents they would always use words like “we” or “our” when talking about my surgery. It’s not our back, we aren’t going through a 7 hour surgery together. I found it frustrating when my parents would try to insert themselves into my scoliosis problems. This process was…

  • Things that made me happy in the hospital

    Being in the hospital was one of the hardest times of my life. There’s really not much joy in there, and there’s not much you can do while bedridden and drugged. I found that the littlest things made me happiest. I am not trying to scare you, but I do wish that I was a…

  • Insecurities

    Being a teenager, it’s already hard to accept your body the way it is. But when it feels like your body is “deformed”, it’s even harder. Looking in the mirror everyday and seeing pictures of yourself in a bathing suit is even more of a challenge when you don’t look “normal”. Living in today’s world,…

  • My diagnosis and bracing

    My diagnosis was almost perfect timing- it was that time where all you wanted was a sprained ankle so you could have crutches, or bad vision so you could wear glasses. When the doctors at Stanford Children’s Hospital told me I would have to wear a brace, admittedly, I was a little excited. I wanted…