When Life Throws You a Curve: One Girl's Triumph over Scoliosis

by Elizabeth Golden

When Elizabeth Golden, a typical 13-year-old student who enjoyed hanging out with friends, playing sports and laughing out loud, was diagnosed with Scoliosis and faced major surgery, she was... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1589851021
• ISBN13: 9781589851023
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Five Star Pubns
• Length: 132 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.5" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Curvy Girls Unite!

This was such a lovely book to find. It's been many years since I was diagnosed with scoliosis, and I wish I'd had this beautiful memoir to read when I was thirteen. Elizabeth Gold tells her story from the heart. If you have a curvature of the spine, or are close to someone who does, this book is worth your time. It will answer many questions and relieve anxiety and heartache. Brava, Elizabeth! Linda C. Wisniewski Off Kilter: A Woman's Journey to Peace with Scoliosis, Her Mother, and Her Polish Heritage

This book was truly a help with the uncertainty of surgery

Great Book I would recomend this book to any young girl who has to have Scoliosis surgery. It is not candy coated she tells it like it is. Nothing can take away the fear of this surgery but I feel it helped my daughter on what to expect.

Another Triumphant Girl!

[Book Review submitted by Sarah Patellos, age 16, Co-Spokesperson for the National Scoliosis Foundation] In When Life Throws You a Curve: One Girls Triumph Over Scoliosis, Elizabeth Golden lets the reader in on the struggles and hardships she experienced when faced with major surgery for scoliosis. Ultimately, she presents an uplifting story of growth and conquest over a condition that she did not allow to stop her from living her life to the fullest. As co-spokespersons for the National Scoliosis Foundation, Elizabeth and I share the desire to share our experiences in order to help other patients deal with their own battle with scoliosis and ultimately to become victorious. The adversity of our condition cannot be denied, but we were faced with the choice to let scoliosis run our lives, or to live our own lives fully in spite of scoliosis. We hope to increase awareness about the importance of screening for scoliosis in pre-teens and teens. As a scoliosis patient of eight years, I have endured eight braces, a seven hour spinal fusion surgery, a six week post surgery summer recovery, and many 120 mile round trips for checkups and x-rays. I, too, have triumphed over what "curve" life has thrown me. Any young person dealing with an illness or medical condition will be able to appreciate Elizabeth's sharing of her experience. And, hopefully, by reading this book, be inspired to find the power and ability to come out on top of adversity. Having scoliosis has actually made me feel fortunate because I have a condition that can be corrected and I am very proud to have overcome such a personal hardship. I can relate to Elizabeth when she writes about her pursuit of sports and the desire to not miss out on events that are important to her, such as summer camp. I have also chosen to not let scoliosis stop me from doing what I love to do. I have been dancing since I was three, and have been competing since I was twelve. When I was in fourth grade, I was informed that I would need to wear a Boston back brace eighteen hours a day and I was devastated. I wondered if I would be able to dance, go to the beach with my friends, and do the active things that I loved to do. It turned out that I was able to continue with everything I wanted too--the brace simply became a normal part of every day life. It was an accepted fact of life and a non-issue for me with my friends. I was certainly not going to let a brace stop me! I continued to live my life, and soon enough accepted my brace as a part of my daily underwear--nothing like that would define who I was. Elizabeth's story focuses on her surgical experience, which I can personally relate to all too well. The support received from her friends and family, especially her parents, grandmother and aunt, was extremely important to her successful recovery. I found this was a principal theme to her story, as it was with my own experience. When facing personal suffering and d

Great resource for families facing spinal fusion!

I am the mother of a teen who underwent spinal fusion for scoliosis eight months ago. This book, by a teen, for teens who may be dealing with a diagnosis of scoliosis and facing surgery in an invaluable story for others to hear. Elizabeth speaks openly of her emotions through her journey from diagnosis to recovery. The most helpful preparation for surgery for me was to speak to other parents whose children had recently been through it themselves. While the specifics for each patient will vary, much of what Elizabeth described was similar to my daughter's surgical experience. This story is written honestly, with hope and inspiration for teens who may be facing a similar challenge. It isn't too overwhelming for a teen facing surgery to read. Elizabeth's successes in life following surgery should give hope to others. In fact, they would likely relate to many of the same thoughts and feelings expressed in the book.