A Success Story

 

“Rediscovering Fitness Changed My Life”

 

Jacqueline Carter

Tustin, California

 

THE DOCTORS SAID THAT IF MY CONDITION WAS LEFT UNCORRECTED, IT COULD LEAD TO PARALYSIS, EVEN DEATH.

Since my surgery, I have been molding my career within the fitness industry;  from mere observation, no one would know the struggles I went through.

     When I was 14, I learned that I had Scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that can be life threatening.  The specialists in Chicago decided that my condition was severe enough to warrant surgery.  I underwent a major operation that reduced the three curves in my spine and also fused together most of my vertebra.  As part of the surgery, some bone was removed from my hip to strengthen my spine, and two Herrington rods (that run the length of my back) were inserted to hold the repositioned spine in place.  The straightening of my spine increased my height by 2 ˝ inches.  I wore a body cast for 4 months and a brace for another 3 months.

     It is hard enough to go through puberty, even under the best circumstances, but I had just moved to a new school in Indiana and was experiencing the trials of being a teenager while developing inside a cast.  During my recovery, I spent most of the time at home and had a tutor for my schooling.  I was so self-conscious that I didn’t want to be photographed.  I didn’t want to go out, for I might be seen in my cast, and besides I didn’t even want to see others who were physically active when I was so burdened.  During that long, dark, inactive winter in Indiana, I became depressed from my confinement.

     Although my brace was removed that spring, my depression did not as easily relinquish its hold, for I knew that the rods were permanent, and I thought they would keep me from peak performance.  The doctors informed me that participation in my favorite activities (diving, gymnastics, skateboarding, and dance) would be restricted.  My fearful mentality kept me restrained until I rediscovered fitness and realized that I could participate if I used moderation. 

     The next winter, my mother and I decided to join a health club and I discovered that the fears about the rods in my back were unfounded.  For a long time, I had been afraid that I would be unable to participate safely in vigorous activity, for it might disengage the rods.  Taking aerobics and lifting weights gave me a sense of freedom and empowerment.  This was the first moment when I was truly out of my cast:  it felt so good to be able to move freely.  I realized I should be thankful for what I could do rather than to dwell on what I couldn’t do.

     I realized that if I accepted my limitations, there were still infinite options available.  I rediscovered that through fitness one can get a natural high, and I began to look for other ways to improve my health and sense of well-being.  I started educating myself about wellness through classes, books, and magazines.  I felt so good about these changes that I wanted to help others to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

     When I finished college and moved to California, I continued my quest to learn about fitness at a community college, where I eventually began teaching.  Today, I have ten fitness certifications, have returned to school to earn my Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology and begun working on a Masters Degree in Kinesiology, I have been interviewed on the radio about fitness, have been featured three times in Shape Magazine for my success story and was hired afterwards for their first Big Sister Little Sister Program which involved acting as a mentor in assisting another reader in her quest for fitness.

     I have worked in the fitness industry for thirteen years.  I teach a variety of group exercise classes in numerous settings such as corporations, colleges, older adult programs, and health clubs.   I am a certified personal trainer specializing in back care, exercise balls, balance, and various special populations.   Many of my clients come to me specifically for these types of services.   My experience with Scoliosis has gifted me with the understanding that is necessary in helping those who are physically challenged.

     Since my story was first published, I have helped many others who have Scoliosis. In fact, five of Shape’s readers wrote to the magazine inquiring about getting in touch with me.  They too suffered from Scoliosis and were in need of encouragement and advice regarding their situation.  In corresponding with them, I became more aware of the need for professionals who are educated in working with special populations; this inspired me to continue to further my education.  My story was also featured in another magazine.

        Perhaps because of my surgery and the experiences of modifying my activities, I find myself very accepting of differences among people.  Too often, people seem to feel intimidated by a need to conform and risk injury by trying to mirror what others are doing or to meet the expectations of others.  I believe it is better to accept yourself and risk being unique rather than to risk pain or injury.  When I teach, I try to remind my students and clients to “listen to their bodies” and modify accordingly.  Everyone is different.  I think we need to encourage people more often in feeling free to modify or alter movements to suit their individual needs.

     I used to think of my scar as a handicap and had gone to great lengths and discomforts to hide it.  However, the handicap was in my mind.  Today, I view my scar as a symbol of my survival.  I’ve learned not to fight my body, but to accept it and to work with what I have.  I encourage others to do the same.

     There are many people who may be faced with similar struggles and I hope that my story can be an inspiration to them.  One must seek to understand what they can do and how it can be accomplished with fitness and a healthy lifestyle.  This allows one to accentuate the positive, despite life’s challenges.  Even after a major spine-fusing surgery, I have been able to enjoy a fit lifestyle and even lead aerobics in such a way that unless I mention it, my students are not aware that there is anything different about me.

 

Here is a photo of the before and after x-rays of my spine.  The after picture (right) shows the two Herrington rods that support my spine. The largest of the three curves was 69 degrees. It has been corrected to 22 degrees, which is in the normal range.