I have a new friend.
A new best friend, actually.
But what’s funny is that we’ve actually
been around each other our entire lives….
and were only recently introduced.
My best friend and I have nicknames.
I got to know her so well it’s not
scoliosis, just
Hi Scoli! How’s your day been? You been worsening lately?
Now, don’t do that or iron rods will
separate
us
forever
well, maybe just one –
straight
down
my
back
and i’ll never know scoli again.
I’m a good friend
I never let scoli feel bad, in fact I
called in half-inch plastic reinforcements
to make sure scoli’s never anything
less
than normal.
the ½ inch plastic has become the 3rd wheel –
now we’re a trio
but when we have arguments,
scoli and I lean more one way,
left.
½ inch always pushes me to lean right…
so now I have a friendship problem –
fights between scoli and ½ inch,
a demon on one shoulder and an angel
on another
but best friends can go too far.
surgery is too far.
so I listen to half inch –
lean right.
stand straight.
safe from surgery.
for now.
so, maybe we can’t be besties but it’s still just
scoli.
not scoliosis.
September 5th, 2025
My hamstrings groan as I reach for my far – away toes.
The doctor’s hand trails down my back…
“I notice that your spine seems to curve left here…”
“Mom, can you come look at this?”
“Yes, I see that”
“Xray? Okay.”
“Probably nothing big.”
—-
“Stand here,
hands here,
straight back,
stay still!”
beep
beep
beep.
—-
“Hey Mom?
Did we get the results from the xray?”
“Yes…”
—-
September 12, 2025
“2 curves in your back
A – typical, meaning unusual
41 degrees and 18 degrees
Hit 50 degrees and you need surgery
Wear a back brace
for 20 hours a day”
—-
Hi scoli,
Nice to finally meet you.
by Adelle H.