About Me
Hi! I'm Caroline, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh! I'm studying finance and accounting. I graduated from high school in NJ in June 2021. During high school, I was highly involved in community service, especially in Girl Scouts! I became a Girl Scout in Kindergarten, and I loved it ever since. I wrote I'm Bent Not Broken for my Girl Scout Gold Award project, which is a project that requires at least 80 hours of service and a sustainable impact on my community. I also completed my Silver Award, 50 hours of service, and my Bronze Award, 20 hours of service. For my Silver Award, which I earned in middle school, two other Girl Scouts and I held a bike drive and hosted a bingo night to support a camp for children with cancer or blood-related disorders. We raised $2,500 and donated 70 bikes and helmets to the camp. Our project is documented on @bingo4bikes on Instagram. For my Bronze Award, which I earned in elementary school, my Girl Scout troop and I distributed brown paper bags to students. On each bag, we attached reminders to bring an extra lunch to school for "Extra Lunch Wednesday" for our local homeless shelter. Thank you for visiting my website and for your interest in I'm Bent Not Broken.
Gold Award Project
For my project, I chose to make a difference in the scoliosis community by writing I'm Bent Not Broken with the intention of ensuring that nobody with scoliosis feels alone. Since scoliosis is an invisible illness, meaning you can not tell someone is sick just by looking at them, many kids with scoliosis feel like they are the only one who has it. However, this is far from the truth. 3 in 100 people have scoliosis, so I promise you, you are not alone. Someone you already know, I guarantee, has it. Someone in your grade certainly has scoliosis and is going through the same thing. Even if you don’t know who it is, just know you are not alone.
My goal is to spread awareness, educate, and share my scoliosis story so your journey is not full of surprises, loneliness, and fear. Of course, every scoliosis story is different, but it is important to share our experiences and stories with each other as a reminder that we’re not alone. That is why I invite you to visit the Other Stories page on the website where you can read more about scoliosis, treatments, and stories from myself and other scoliosis patients as well. Additionally, the website is an open forum for you to express your concerns or share your experiences with people who are going through the same thing.
I chose to write “I’m Bent Not Broken” for my project because patients with scoliosis sometimes feel alone, embarrassed, have a poor body image, or feel like they have to exclude themselves from social situations. In this book, I write about what scoliosis is, possible treatments, my experiences, and advice from myself, other scoliosis patients, and doctors. I want to make a difference as a writer and by spreading awareness about the negative physiological effects of scoliosis, but more so, I want to share with the patients how to manage scoliosis. Scoliosis actually affects a patient's life a lot, including their ability to make friends, their mental health, and more. I want to share my experiences and teach other children how to cope with it. In addition, I hope I can help guide the children who have scoliosis and prevent or lessen the negative physiological effects. I want the reader to know they are not alone and to make their scoliosis journey a more positive experience.
My Scoliosis
I was diagnosed with scoliosis in the summer leading up to 6th grade when I was 11. My pediatrician diagnosed me and recommended that I see an orthopedist, I didn't even know what scoliosis was at the time, so I was very confused and nervous. When the day came to see the orthopedist, he told me that I have moderate scoliosis and will need to wear a brace. Two weeks later, I got fitted for my first brace, and two weeks after that, I received it. It was gigantic. I hated wearing it because it restricted my movement. However, I got used to wearing it over time. Eventually, it became more comfortable to sleep in my brace than to sleep without it just because I got so used to it. I wore my brace from 6th grade all the way until 9th grade. My curve never progressed to severe, so I didn't need surgery.
Overall, my scoliosis journey was positive. I learned a lot about myself throughout the whole process. Scoliosis even allowed me to meet my best friend, who also has scoliosis. I can honestly say that I wouldn't be the same person I am today if I hadn't been diagnosed with scoliosis.
My Advice
Scoliosis is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering why I would say such a strange thing. I wouldn’t write it if it’s not true. If I didn’t have scoliosis, I wouldn’t have written this book or finished my Girl Scout Gold Award. I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Scoliosis has made me stronger, and braver, and more confident. Scoliosis will not stop me, and it shouldn’t stop you either. From my experience, scoliosis is not a life-changing illness. Scoliosis is just a small part of what makes you an amazing person; scoliosis does not define you. Every case is different, but regardless, don’t let scoliosis stand in the way of your passions or prevent you from chasing your dreams. It may cause a few bumps in the road, but don’t let it block your path.
At first, scoliosis may seem overwhelming and confusing. Sometimes scoliosis will stand in the way of your ability to play sports. Your back may hurt when you have to sit in the same chair for the whole school day or you are standing for too long on the bleachers during chorus. It may seem unfair when your friends complain about how much their back hurts when they have a straight spine. If you need a back brace to correct your spine, you might feel as stiff as a tree and you may feel embarrassed when you have a sleepover and everyone asks what you’re wearing. You might have difficulty falling asleep in your big, clunky, plastic brace. You might be terrified if you need surgery. Over time, scoliosis becomes less and less significant and more as a part of your routine. Doctors, braces, check-ups, repeat. It will become less of a burden and just another thing you have to deal with. Scoliosis does not define you, it is a small part of you and makes a great story to tell.
Remember who you are in this whole process. Scoliosis is such an insignificant thing. Don’t let the curve in your spine control you or dictate your dreams. Your scoliosis makes you stronger and braver even if it doesn't feel like that now. Scoliosis will be a good story to tell even if right now you are ashamed. Scoliosis is just a curve in your spine - like how your teeth curve when your smile. Scoliosis is a curve, a bend, an anomaly, but it makes you unique. You are not flawless (ps: no one is), but your flaws are what make you beautiful. What makes you unique is what makes you special. Remember to love yourself, love your body, and love your curvy spine. You are special and your scoliosis is insignificant. You have a bend in your spine, but it doesn’t break you.