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Here’s what my lumbar spine and pelvis look like with my new hardware.

My surgeon did have to place screws into the ilium. She discovered that the pedicle bone on the left of my L5 was missing (part of the congenital deformity that made the vertebrae wedge-shaped), so she wasn’t able to place a pedicle screw there. She said she had never seen that in her career, so she was fascinated by it. She also explained how that is likely what caused my scoliosis- she said it’s like if 4 people are carrying a couch and 1 person stops, the couch will fall.

Other than that, the surgery went as expected. I’m feeling relieved that I made the right decision with this surgery, and hopeful that after this fusion heals, I can correct or at least maintain my scoliotic curves non-operatively.

I was discharged from the hospital today, and Ryan and I are anxiously awaiting the wheelchair transfer so we can go home. I did develop a pulmonary emboli (small blood clot) in my right lung after the surgery that was caught on a CT scan. So I’m on a blood thinner that should dissolve it in 3-6 months. Other than that, my recovery is going as expected. Physical therapy had me up and walking with a walker on day 2 (Tuesday), and climbing stairs on day 3 (Wednesday). Over Wednesday night I had a fever and high heart rate which was what indicated the possible blood clot, so day 4 (Thursday) was spent doing several tests to find it and make sure there was no damage to my heart. My brother and many friends visited me at the hospital, which brightened my recovery so much! I also lucked out with a hospital room with a great view of the East River.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, and I’ll post again soon!

Love,

Renée