Thirteen Years

Today marks 13 years since I had my back surgery. 

And I just realized that I was 13 years old at the time. Freaky! 

For those of you who don't know, back in 2000 I had surgery to correct an insane curve in my spine caused by Scoliosis. My spine was shaped almost like a "C" and was starting to twist my ribcage so an operation was necessary. 

They did some crazy stuff that I can't really explain, but as a result I grew 2 inches in 8 hours, am missing a rib (it was fused into my spine), have two rods in my back to keep it straight, and have a total of 4 scars.

I'm kicking myself for telling my mom I did NOT want any pictures taken to document my surgery (after all I was a teenager), because it was a big event in my life. Oh well! 

One other "bonus" from my surgery, that I didn't find out until last year, is that because of the rods I will never be able to have an epidural during labor. That was hard to accept, especially since I didn't find that out until I was already pregnant!

I was extremely lucky that Marlene's birth went as quickly as it did, and I know Heavenly Father was looking out for me. I was also blessed with an extremely fast recovery thirteen years ago that I am so grateful for.

Its so interesting to look back on trials and realize how much they really help you grow. 

This quote says it all:

"The Divine Shepherd has a message of hope, strength, and deliverance for all. If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they 

purge, they purify, and thus they bless."

James E. Faust