It was summer in New Jersey and a friend had invited me to her house to go swimming in her family's pool. I told her I would walk there (less than a mile away from my house) and she expressed concern.
"What if you fall? You'll be a like a turtle on its back. 'Help me! Help me!'" she mimicked the infamous line from "The Fly".
I laughed and assured her I'd be fine. And I was.
Another summer, during a family trip to the Florida Keys, I spent some of my "brace-less" time in the sun ~ and fell asleep. The resulting case of sun poisoning made wearing my Milwaukee brace unbearable, so I went without for awhile. I remember feeling vulnerable, sleeping without the brace's support. Or maybe I was feeling guilty, not wearing it as prescribed.
This story reminded me of those instances. It is Hannah's story, seen through her aunt's camera lens. This touching tribute, by photographer Julia Cybularz, chronicles Hannah's scoliosis treatment. The story title is the first reference to "living in a shell" that I can recall ~ a very accurate description. Scroll through the photos of "Breaking the Girl" to see Hannah's journey of strength and courage.
This July will mark 36 years since my last body cast was removed, finally freeing me from my shell.
4 years ago
