When I was ten years old, I was stretching in my Houston Ballet class when I felt a sharp pain in my back. At first, I ignored it. But over time, the pain began radiating down my right thigh whenever I walked or sat too long. I knew something wasn’t right.
I mentioned it to my parents only twice. I’ve never been much of a complainer, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were working long hours in clinics and hospitals. I didn’t want to add to their stress. So I masked my crooked gait, compensating with different muscles, forcing myself to stand straighter. Secretly, I was afraid of what a trip to the doctor might reveal.
Months later, during a family trip to the Grand Canyon, everything changed. After a long car ride and a steep hike, I couldn’t hide the pain anymore. My parents saw it. And for the first time, I felt relief that I was finally being heard.
My last of many consultations was with a pediatric neurosurgeon. He was a very tall man with a warm smile. He wore a thick pair of reading glasses and an impeccable white doctor’s coat. I sat quietly, staring at him as he spoke. He said that I had a rare case of spondylolisthesis, likely caused by hypermobility. I would need spinal fusion surgery.
As soon as I heard the word “surgery,” devastation flooded my heart like a wave crashing on rocks. But at least I had an answer and a possible cure for my pain. I told my mom, “Let’s do the surgery soon, so I can go back to doing things I like.” People would say it takes guts to decide on spinal surgery quickly like this. But I wasn’t scared. I just wanted the pain gone. At that moment, I couldn’t have known that things would never be the same.
I underwent an intensive spinal fusion surgery that lasted eight hours. After a year of physical therapy, I was cleared, but with one condition: no more ballet. I was devastated. My dream was gone. But with my family’s support and encouragement, I found new passion: golf. I now play golf for my varsity high school team.
These experiences changed me. They taught me empathy. They also taught me the importance of perseverance. And that takes guts.
Sophia Nguyen
Houston, Texas
