Hey, I am Alyssa and a 5th grader who is almost 11. I have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Adolescent is a kid from I think 10 to 18. Idiopathic means it is unknown or they don't know where it comes from. Scoliosis means that you have a curve on your spine.

This is how it started in end-2005. I think we went to the doctor for the yearly checkup. So he told me to lean down so he could check my back. I did, and he said that I had a little curve. He told me to go to the back doctor. We did and she took x-rays. It was still ok but then she told me that we would have to come again for another check on my back. The next time, they took my x-rays again and my back had gotten worse. She said that I would have to get a brace. It was a TLSO Boston Brace.

A couple of weeks later, we went to the orthitist (who makes your brace). I came and brought old sweat pants and a tank top for the making of the brace. I changed my clothes and then the doctor started making the cast (which then hardened to a brace). The doctor and his wife were making the brace out of warm water and one other thing that I forget. The cast was all the way from my underarms to the mid bottom. After the cast was finished, the doctor but a line in the back of it and cut it. Now I had felt a little of what the brace was going to feel like.

I had been wondering how it looked like, if it will show, and if I would have to buy new clothes. Well, that day had come, and it was right after Colonial Day at school. (Colonial Day is where you get to dress, eat, and do games that the Colonial people did.) We went to the doctor waiting in the room. He finally came and I got help putting the brace on. It felt very hard at first, and when I exhaled, it was really tight. The doctor ajusted it and asked if it hurted and where. It hurted basically under my arms because it kinda cut into there. He then cut that part a little and it felt better. My mom asked how many hours should I where it the first couple might. The doctor said 23 hours on the dot starting today. Well, ok...

My mom took me to the mall so I could get some new clothes. Yay! When we got there we went to a store that I liked. I started picking out clothes. I chose small becuase I used to be x-small. I them on and they were too tight. I wasn't too happy. I then got size medium. It was pretty baggy but fine. I got clothes that I wanted then went home.

The next day, I had to go to school. Worrying, I didn't have to. No one really noticed but I told my friends. My mom brought me to the nurse and P.E. teacher so she could tell them and show how it is done. The next day, I had P.E. I took my brace off in the nurses office, and after P.E. was done, I would put it back on with help. All was doing very well.

Now, I am still doing the same thing. I just went to the doctors because the whole bottom strap came off! Most people don't know that I even have a brace. I usually take my brace off when I wake up because I am sweaty. Anyway, I still love sports and can do all of the things that my friends do in P.E. which is really fun. I now have a regular basis. I still go to the mall and love to shop! Anyway, my friends think it is cool. My mom stretches with me because she is a physical therapist. Hope you liked MY SCOLI STORY!

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