I Missed the Anniversary!!

 December 8th has been an important date to me since 1983.  That was the day I had my surgery to straighten the center curve of my double S Scoliosis.  I have a small curve in my cervical spine and a small one in my lumber spine, of which neither could be corrected as I would never be able to bend or sit or turn.  At the time, the surgery I had was revolutionary.  Prior to this invention, patients would have one rod fused to their spine.  It was a very long recovery.  Because of the newly invented clips, I would have 2 rods fused to my spine.  One was a straight rod, as with the normal surgery, and the other looked more like the edge of a drawn pine tree.  I would not have a cast or a brace.  Patients with only the one rod, had a cast right after the surgery for several months followed by a brace for several more months.  My back was taped for a few weeks then there were 3 stitches that needed to be taken out at home and that was all for that.  Then I had to be careful not to twist or be bumped too much.  I did get to miss quite a bit of school.  I did not mind that.  School was not my favorite place.  The only thing that worried me was solo and ensemble was coming up and I was not quite ready yet  

My mom did bring my clarinet with us to the hospital, well, to her friend's house where my family was staying.  About 4 or 5 days after my surgery, she brought my clarinet into my hospital room for me to play.  I could not get a sound out of it.  I was so upset. I burst into tears.  How could I not play my instrument?  I had to play my solo in about 2 months or so.  Mom tried to calm me down.  I was too upset at the time.  I wish I did remember what happened later that day but I don't.  I do know that kby the time I was home a day or so, I could get sound out.  It crushed me that it took that long.  No one warned me about that.  Music was and still is my life.  As my friends say, I eat, sleep, and breathe music.  My head is never quiet of music.  I have music in my head all the time and I always have.  That is just me. 

December 8, 1984 was when I was finally allowed to twist and do all those things I was to be careful about.  Good thing, only about 4 months too late.  Marching Band Season started in August 1984.

Oh, and I got a II on my solo.  I was very disappointed in myself because to me it meant I did not prepare as well as I should have.  It was the only II I had ever gotten on a solo.  All the others were I's.  Everyone else was thrilled.  I was not.  Can you tell I have ADHD and perfectionism??  Looking back, it was a good rating because when I said I got a sound, it was a very soft thin one.  It wasn't until about 2 1/2 weeks  before the festival that I could actually play with a decent tone and dynamics.  Had I had more notice on when the surgery was going to be, I would have started learning my piece much earlier.  We didn't.  It was a matter of: this day is open so take it.  I think we had maybe a month notice.  Missing a month and a half of good practice was awful to me.  However, having a straight back and then learning to dance afterwards was well worth it.