I used to have a hunchback. I used to be scared of people calling me names or hating me. Now I'm not though, my ordeal has taught me lessons - 1. to tolerate others because you never know why they are acting different and also 2.No pain no gain.
Two years ago -though it seems like yesterday- I found out I had scoliosis,curvature of the spine. I was devasted and remember sitting on the sofa until 11pm numb with shock.
A year after that ,although my surgeon wanted me to have my operation over Christmas, and I was horrified and asked him to please wait - so he did till February, I went into the hospital . I signed in to Ward 17 and waited for my operation with a group of other girls. Sadly , though, I had caught a cold and my operation was cancelled - after all the pain to get there.
Nevertheless - after many cancelled attempts - I had the surgery in the March , and was in a lot of pain. When I finally felt better and well enough to go into school part time to sit my tests , my friends helped me loads, I realised how bad my sister, with joint problems, must feel being in pain, and so I learned to tolerate it if she needed a lot of attention.
Through my operation and the experiences that followed, I have started being a penpal with a girl called Sarah, found out my sister actually has mild scoliosis - but thankfully not bad enough for treatment AND started a scoliosis campaign to start testing for scoliosis in schools in my country.
As I sit writing this, I have a slight back ache , which is rare, but really I don't mind because through my operation I have gained a straight back , learned how good my friends and family really are and...

Discovered myself.