Lydia’s Curvy Journey
My name is Lydia and I live in Columbia, South Carolina. My journey with scoliosis has been just as curvy as my back. It all started when I was in 5th grade with a routine back test during gym class. When I got out of the dressing room, I got a note from the nurse. My mom read it and got me into one of the best orthopedic doctors in the area. After a series of bends and x-rays, the doctor told me I had a curve of 22 degrees thoracic and that I would need to wear a back brace.
As the years passed, I had four different braces due to several growth spurts and my curvature being in the upper back. Every brace I had was a Boston brace, and I would cover it with Wonder Woman and soccer stickers to make it unique. When I entered high school, I was extremely nervous. My best friend and I met in study hall, and for the first time since my diagnosis, he made me think of the brace as Wonder Woman armor. It was the first time I felt like I could beat my curve.
As I exited high school, my curvature was relatively unchanged. But what a new chapter I would start in college! During my sophomore year winter break, my doctor said I was done growing and my curve would remain at 27 degrees thoracic. With that, I placed my brace on a shelf, finished college, and started traveling the world. I snowboarded in Alaska, hiked in Montana, kayaked the Savannah River, became engaged in Colorado, and was married in the middle of a pandemic!
Even though I am finished growing, I continue to track my curve with an adult orthopedic doctor. Although I don’t know what the future holds for me and my curve, I know I have my husband, and with his reassurance, we will conquer whatever life and scoliosis throws our way. As my curvy journey continues, I have great friends and family to support me. With these wonderful people in my life, I know I will be okay, no matter what. I am not shy about my scoliosis and I am proud and honored to be a mentor and Team Leader for Scolios-us.
