Hi! My name’s Stephanie, and I am 15 years old! I was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 10. I was put into a brace and was required to wear it at nighttime for 3 years. For those of you who wear a brace 23 or 24 hours a day, YOU are my hero. Today, my double curve is 50 and 54 degrees. My doctor is recommending surgery, my worst nightmare. I am a non-stop athlete whether it's playing tennis, running, or swimming. Having surgery will put my favorite pasttimes on hold. While struggling with this news, I sat in the doctor's office, looking at my x-rays, thinking about all the other little 10 year old girls out there getting diagnosed just like I was 5 years ago and all the other girls going in for check-ups just like me right now. It’s not an easy diagnosis to cope with when you’re ending elementary school and entering middle school, and peer pressure and the “pressure to be perfect” is at its finest. I want to be there for every girl who’s going through what I went through. Sometimes, it's necessary to talk to someone who truly understands EXACTLY what you are going through. That's what Curvy Girls is all about. It’s not an easy journey, and I want to be there every step of the way for every Curvy Girl. I know it may be hard to imagine reading this right now, but take my word for it... You WILL overcome this challenge and you WILL become a stronger girl.
