Binibining Kurba

Binibining may di pantay na kurba, ika’y maganda.
Binibining may di pantay na balikat, ika’y maganda.
Binibining may di pantay na likod, ika’y mananatiling maganda.
Maganda ka, kahit na likod mo’y iba sa kanila.

Sabihin man ng iba na ika’y kuba,
Sabihin man nilang pangit ang iyong pagtindig at postura,
Sabihin man nilang wala kang patutunguhan dahil sa iyong itsura,
Mananatiling maganda ka, anuman ang pinagsasasabi nila.

Karamihan sa kanila’y nag aakalang likod lang ang may diperensya.
Ngunit di n’yo nakikita na paghinga nami’y nalilimitahan na.
Mga laman sa aming loob ay unti-unti ng naiipit at nanghihina.
At sa tuwing kami’y may sakit na dinaramdam,
‘wag nyo sanang sabihin na kami’y nag-iinarte lamang.

‘Di kami makaupo at makatayo ng pang matagalan.
‘Di rin kami makakapag takbo o lakad ng mabilisan.
Sumasakit sa t’wing ang panaho’y nag-iiba.
At mas lalong sumasakit ang damdamin namin dulot ng pangungutya nila.

‘Wag n’yo sanang iparamdam na kami’y na-iiba.
‘Wag n’yo sanang mas babaan ang aming konpidensya, dulot ng inyong pananalita.
At ‘wag n’yo sana kaming husgahan dulot ng aming balikong kurba.
Dahil mas kailangan namin ng karamay at pag unawa nyo.
At mas kailangan namin ng taong iintindi sa katulad naming ganito.

Kaya sa lahat ng nakakaranas nito,
Huwag tayo basta-basta susuko.
Ibinigay ‘to ng Diyos dahil alam n’yang matatatag tayo.
Kaya sa lahat ng taong nagmamahal sa amin kahit gan’to, mas mahal na mahal namin kayo.

The post Dresfie first appeared on Scoliosis Philippines.

She has curved spine and an anxious mind.

Constantly worrying about what other people would say,

She wanted to be perfect in everyone’s eyes.

Always questioning her self-worth,

Always pointing out her flaws,

Wondering if anyone would love her.

“How can it be so easy to love another but not oneself?”

She pondered.

Her eyes a sapphire crystal,

As she lets free of the tears she was trying to hold back.

She didn’t feel beautiful.

But one shaft of light illuminated her mind;

Streaming through one tiny crack of her fortress.

Amid the dusky shadows, this light begins awakening a new her.

Slowly crawling out of the darkness she was in;

She was reaching out for the day.

A walk, a forward leap,

Casting away all her inhibitions and fears.

She felt complete.

Alive.

Beautiful.

Contented.

I wrote this poem to remind everyone that they should believe in themselves and that we could all be the best version of ourselves when we embrace our imperfections. Happy #ScoliosisAwarenessMonth!

Justine Rose Oropesa
Oriental Mindoro Chapter

How about you? What’s your scoliosis story?

#BentNotBroken
#ScoliosisAwareness
#ScoliosisWarrior

The post Justine Rose first appeared on Scoliosis Philippines.

I was born with scoliosis and growing up, I had to deal with so much pain.

But I didn’t allow the pain to get in the way of my physical activities in school. I was in 4th year high school when my classmate’s sister, who was a physical therapist in San Pedro Hospital, Davao City, told me to see a doctor for my condition. I was surprised because I didn’t tell anyone about it. She just noticed my back. That was the first time I heard of ‘scoliosis’. She recommended me to a doctor in the hospital she worked in.

The result was no good. At 17 I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis. The doctor advised me to have an operation the soonest time possible before the curve gets worse. But it wasn’t that easy for the family back then.

My father died when I was seven while my mother, a housewife, takes care of my sister with special needs. So financially, we were really incapable for any check-up and further treatments. I took scholarship programs and part-time jobs. I tried selling RTWs, car washing, and a part-time position in an office. Since I also love dancing, I used that to also earn money. I auditioned and got in as one of the paid female dancers for Party @ the Fifth of Gaisano JS Ilustre Mall, Davao City.

But still we didn’t have that much money for my operation. My doctor told me to try physical therapy sessions instead. It cost 150 per session. I tried it at first but I found it difficult to sustain. I swore to myself that after graduation when I have a more stable income, I will work on the treatments for my back.

I moved to Cebu City after graduation. My work-house-errand kind of lifestyle there took a toll on my body and got me paralyzed for three days. My body was looking for some physical activities it was used to. And so, paired with Chiropractor sessions that suit me well, I decided to do what my body enjoys best.

I jogged, I walked. I started with 3km fun runs, then 5km, then 7km, and 10km, 12 km, until 15km. But I felt that I could do more and so practiced more for the 21km. I was so happy when I held that finisher’s medal! I didn’t stop there. I joined the 40km marathon and the 50km ultra marathon. I joined major climbs, even climbing for days with a heavy backpack on. The pain was there but I conquered on.

In 2012, I met Ms Amanda Bonife-Kiamko, founder of Scoliosis Philippines through the scoliosis meet-up here in Cebu. We decided to start campaigning for scoliosis awareness. When she moved to Davao City, I dealt with the campaign activities here in Cebu. We started with five members only and now we continually grow through the page and the support group.

In 2019, I initiated the Run to Fight Scoliosis where we also had free screenings. It was a success, we were able to raise awareness about what scoliosis is.

It is through discipline that we can do all these. No brace, no surgery but I was able to decrease my curvature from 36 to 32 degrees. It takes a lot of effort and courage. Now, I work from home as a team leader in a call center here in Cebu. My back would sometimes hurt with hours of sitting down but I always see to it that I do stretches and exercises regularly.

Discipline is the key!

Gwendale Ave
Scoliosis Philippines Cebu Chapter Head

How about you? What’s your scoliosis story?

#BentNotBroken
#ScoliosisAwareness
#ScoliosisWarrior

The post Gwendale first appeared on Scoliosis Philippines.

Three years ago, my parents noticed a lump on the right side of my spine that would rise up and kind of roll when I bent forward.

Papa made an appointment with our pediatrician. It all happened so fast. In March 2016, almost at the end of Grade 9, x-rays revealed that I had a thoracic curve from T5 to T11 measuring 65 degrees and a Thoracolumbar curve from T12 to L4 measuring 32 degrees. At the age of 14, I was diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, meaning that my spine was shaped like an “S”. It was the first time, I heard the word! I was told I would have to be fitted for and wear a back brace to try and prevent the curve advancing.

To be fitted for a brace you have to lie on a table and be wrapped in cold wet gauze. You have to lie still until the mixture dries. It is not an easy thing to do, nor is it very uncomfortable. A few weeks later, we picked up the brace. I was told to wear it 23 and a half hours a day. The half hour was intended for showering. The brace tightly around my stomach and closed in the back with leather buckles in an attempt to straighten my spine. It was so uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Unfortunately, the brace didn’t stop the curves from growing. I was x-rayed every six months. At each doctor’s visit, my scoliosis progressed. Within a year, my Thoracic curve had also progressed to 90 degrees, while the Thoracolumbar curve was up to 55 degrees.

My parents looked for means to help me on Facebook and came across the Scoliosis Philippines Support Group headed by Ms. Amanda Glenda Bonife-Kiamko. It promotes awareness and provides support to Scoliosis patients like me.

Last June 30, 2018 during the Scoliosis Awareness Month celebration at the Philippine Rehabilitation Institute, one of the specialists said my curve is not for bracing anymore. Surgery is recommended. I remember my parents crying and then I started to cry as well. It was very scary for me. You don’t often see your parents cry so I knew this was not going to be good.

Through the advice of Ms. Amanda, we applied as a beneficiary of The Duncan Tree Foundation, (headed by Ms. Ouida Duncan) a non-profit organization serving the medical needs of the poor and vulnerable in selected countries. After a month, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) e-mailed us, inviting to do Pre-surgical Assessment in Davao City. August 2018 we flew to Davao for my assessment.

The long wait is over, June 30, 2019 we received good news that I am one of the lucky applicants of The Duncan Tree Foundation and they are expecting us to fly again to Davao in preparation of my surgery. July 10, 2019, we arrived to Davao City for the second time.

My surgery was scheduled on July 22, 2019 and I was filled with fear and worry. I researched spinal fusion surgery and read other patients’ stories online. I was encouraged by their testimonials to think positively and to visualize myself as healthy and vibrant after surgery. I also read about the importance of being in great physical shape before surgery. I jogged around my neighborhood to build endurance, clear my mind and practice my positive affirmations to prepare for my scoliosis surgery.

With all the standard test procedures, I dreaded the MRI the most. I was scared to be put inside this big tube and I remember holding my mother’s hand as I was placed deeper inside. I remember tears rolling down my cheeks and the back of my head getting wet. They told me after the MRI how brave I was but I sure didn’t feel that way.

Before being taken into surgery I was hooked up to all these electrodes that would be used to make sure all my nerves remained intact during surgery. I looked like a science fiction character. It was at this point I broke down. I started what we call in my family the ugly cry. My parents were holding my hand and they started to cry too. They are both crying and both scared. My mom gave me some quick kisses and words of love.

After a nurse gave me some medication, I started feeling more and more relaxed and then my memory fades. I don’t remember anything after that. According to my parents, the surgery took a total of eight hours.

I woke up in the recovery room with puffy eyes but I felt relieved seeing my family around me. The very next day, I started with physical therapy (PT).

PT has you up and out twice a day walking the hall. I didn’t want to get up and move. I just wanted to lay in bed. You also need to start eating. I had no appetite and all my family wanted me to do was eat. My dad just kept saying eat, eat, eat I was getting sick of it and just didn’t want to eat.

Once I was ready to be sent home, my routine started to change. I would get up, get cleaned up, and get my back dressing changed. Taking the tape off my back to change the dressing hurt a lot. It took me a while to get an appetite. I knew I had to eat well because I had a lot of healing to do. I was sure to eat lots of protein and calcium. Even if I didn’t really feel like eating I was sure to get the right food groups needed to promote healing.

I also started PT after I got home. Most of my therapy consisted of helping my ability to move, improving my functional ability strengthening and flexibility. The work was hard, but my physical therapists were so nice. My parents kept telling me there would be a light at the end of the tunnel and as therapy went on, I found that to be true.

Spinal fusion surgery made me stronger both physically and mentally and it really boost my self-confidence. I set my mind towards several goals, including graduating Senior High School class and attending Lyceum of the Philippines, (Batangas) and taking up Engineering.

This is my story and I want to help any other scoliosis warriors out there. I understand the pain you go through but you have to realize just how strong you really are. Yes there are still days when I wish I could bend my back like others take for granted but I was chosen to be like this and I’m happy.

Nathaniel Mercado
Lipa City, Batangas Chapter

How about you? What’s your scoliosis story?

#BentNotBroken
#ScoliosisAwareness
#ScoliosisWarrior

The post Nathaniel first appeared on Scoliosis Philippines.