I swear I blinked and now I’m almost five months post-spinal fusion. I’m out of my brace, I am in physical therapy, I am student teaching, I will make an appearance in the senior dance of my last dance show, and I am here. I am walking. Though it's hard for me to say, I can't neglect that I have had so much taken from me. I have indeed experienced more life in the last five months than I would have ever wanted to. Though this has been hands down the hardest thing I've ever been through and may ever go through in my life, I do know that I am proud of myself, which is hard to say because I know someone else will always have it worse. 

 

I do know how I could’ve been the one to have it so much worse. I do know how lucky I am. I do know that I will continue to work hard everyday to get better both mentally and physically. I do know that this journey of healing may never end. But as my mom said as I made my way back to school this semester, I also know that I'm a diamond, even Pehčevo couldn't (fully) break me! And because of that, I am one hell of a stronger person with, quite the story to tell.