Some of you may have noticed it getting especially quiet on the blog. Whether you did or not, I am ready to start explaining my disappearance.
When Emma was a child, I didn’t really consider her feelings much when it came to blogging. Although I was careful never to publish anything that could harm her, she didn’t understand blogging and thus had no objections to my writing about her.
But now that she is a teen, things are different. She has opinions about what I share on Jimmie’s Collage, and I support her right to privacy. That’s why I have not (until now) publicly revealed my daughter’s scoliosis.
Now that she is recovering from her spinal fusion surgery, she has allowed me to discuss it on my blog.
And just so you know, there was no cajoling or pressuring. Actually, she started sharing tidbits about it on her own Instagram account before I even asked her if I could write openly about it.
I have plenty of blog ideas without using my daughter’s back as a topic. But since it has taken over much of our lives these past two weeks, it seems fitting to write about. And she is open to sharing some of her story here.
My plan is to wrap all of this into a package I’m calling Homebound Homeschool. I will start at the beginning, telling a little about how we got her diagnosis and move chronologically to our preparations, the hospital experience, recovery at home, and finally homebound homeschool.
I hope it will educate and encourage other homeschool moms whose tweens or teens are facing surgery that disrupts homeschool and family life. These are not my typical posts, but these last few months have not been typical life either. We are now homebound homeschoolers.
All Posts in This Series
- New Series: Homebound Homeschool
- How Did I Not See the Scoliosis: Dealing With the Mom Guilt
- Preparing for Surgery
- In the Hospital
- Transitioning Home
- The Beauty of Homebound Homeschool
- What to Bring a Teen Who is in the Hospital or Recuperating
I look forward to reading about this, Jimmie. It sounds as though you got through what had to be a stressful time just fine, but still – I’m sorry you’ve had a tough little while. Hope Emma is all recovered now.
Jimmie,
I think this is a topic a lot of families can apply in their own way! At my house last week I ended up spending four days at Children’s Hospital with my little guy Mason who had two unexpected brain surgeries (the first didn’t work on Wed, so we had a repeat on Fri). Homeschool for the six at home went on with Daddy and Grandma to some degree, but this is a regular thing in our life. With Mason’s many doctor and specialist appointments due to spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and clubfeet, plus physical therapy appointments and the multiple daily therapy sessions I do with him at home, and the surprise surgeries like these our homeschooling has become very flexible with some more independence happening for all the children. The last unexpected surgery for him was just at the beginning of August. Before that he hadn’t had any for months. It’s just not something we can predict, other than there will be more surgeries. Even Spinal Fusion could be in our future along with spinal detetherings as he grows. We just have to wait and see.
Praying your sweet Emma will heal well!
I’m so glad she is recovering well! Looking forward to reading your series.
Looking forward to your series, Jimmie.
I admire your online restraint and only sharing so much. I think your series is going to really benefit so many families.
Hugs to you.
I will be very interested to follow along – and to share with some friends of mine who are sometimes in similar circumstances! I know this will touch lives across the world, no exaggeration.
Keeping you and Emma and your whole family in our prayers!
I too have scoliosis but it was found when I was 12 and that was 37 years ago. The surgery was an option but not a very safe one so my parents opted for the back brace for 4 years and needless to say that 4 years during my teenage years were some of the hardest years I have ever been thru. I look forward to your post. I will be praying for your daughter during this healing process after surgery and I will be praying for you and your family too.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life.
Praying for your sweet Emma and you Jimmie. I will be following along on these posts. Hugs to you both.
Jimmie, what a trial for your family to have to go through. We’ll be praying for all of you. And please, tell Emma what a courageous young woman she is to be willing to let others see into her life. The heart hurt and pain, but even more so, the comfort and strength that God’s grace gives us when we rest in Him.
I’m sure sharing this will bless many!
I had wondered but I also knew all of the other things you were involved in so I thought you were just busy
I also had noted the fewer posts but chalked it up to typical Jimmie’s-amazingly-in-depth-and-inspirational-homeschool fervor so I thought you gals were having a grand old adventure. I can remember having some retired, age-spotted doctor with withered hands rubbing up and down my spine as I bent over in my gym clothes as a phalanx of young girls curlicued out the door behind me in our school’s annual scoliosis testing. That kind of experience wouldn’t have saved Emma from this hardship but perhaps she was spared that humiliation. I wish you both well and send along a fun election game she can play in bed http://www.icivics.org/games/win-white-house
As my boys have gotten older, I have felt the need to protect and respect their privacy as well. We all have stories and burdens of the heart that we want to share… but not all are my stories to tell. And when my story intertwines with that of my children or my husband, I must pause and consider that some things are best to keep silent, perhaps for a season, or only with the spoken word in private conversation.
I am praying for continued healing for Emma and for God to encourage both of your hearts!
I, also, have scoliosis. But it, along with a herniation of my brain into my spinal column, was not diagnosed until after I was 30 years old. And after having 3 kids. I am so glad you found hers at a young age and got the surgery over with. Hope she is recovering well. My surgeries are put off until after my kids are grown. These are some scary surgeries. God bless! Can’t wait to read more.
I have missed your posts, but completely understand! Looking forward to reading this new series and praying that Emma has an easy recovery.
I totally understand the need to be sensitive to our children’s need for some privacy. I was just telling Tricia today that I am ready now to share our family’s experience with homeschooling chronically ill children. Then I see your post today…I will be reading your posts with interest.
Thanks Jimmie.
I’m looking forward to this series too. Four weeks ago, we brought our newest daughter home from China. She has hydrocephalus and scoliosis. Her file only said lateral bending….we had our first pediatrician appointment this week and he just kept saying he rarely sees this in teens. He thinks she’s at about 40 degrees already and she’s 7. So we think we’ll be seeing surgery sooner in our future than we anticipated.
Thanks for sharing! Praying for her recovery and for God to use you to encourage others going through similar experiences.
Thank you, Jimmie, and especially thank you, Emma, for being willing to share your story.
When I was in high school, my younger brother was diagnosed with scoliosis. He had the surgery where they went in with scopes and put a few pins to straighten it out. But soon after, the pins just popped out because apparently his bones are too soft (He is on a daily calcium supplement now.) So they had to go back in and do a more invasive surgery, adding a medal rod. So I definitely understand how this can disrupt the family routine!
Heal well!
We have missed you, and trust and pray that day by day Emma’s pain eases and her mobility and confidence returns.
Recently I had a burn accident and have homeschooled from bed. Although there are the limitations and interruptions with any illness, surgery or accident, homeschooling somehow still keeps the engine turning … even if we are not all switched on or going anywhere! It is a relief to keep things homebound and simple.
I look forward to reading the rest of your posts.(Grace to you and healing hugs to Emma.)
Thinking and praying for you both!
I am really interested in this series. I had back surgery for scoliosis when I was 12 (I had Harrington rods put in) and before that I wore a back brace for several years. I have to day that I think having that surgery was a great thing for me in that I don’t suffer from the side effects of scoliosis like my mother and all her cousins did. Having the surgery never got in my way and has never really impacted my life, other than being advised to have c-sections with my kids (probably not mandatory, but was recommended by several doctors) and the fact that with the rods you can’t join the army (never wanted to, but if I did they could remove the rods now and I’d be ok). I hope everything goes well for your daughter. Good luck with everything!
I have missed your posts and thought you were just busy also.
I’m so glad you respect your daughter’s privacy! I know that we can all share and help one another, but the internet is a VERY public place and I think we could use a little more discretion out there. 😉
Praying for your daughter!
Good for her! I have scoliosis too, though my curve is less than 20 degrees, so I did not have surgery. My mom had surgery when she was in high school and was in a body cast for a year! I look forward to reading more!
I have missed your posts and look forward to reading how you and your family are dealing with this. Much love and prayers to you, Emma and your family.
Sorry to hear your daughter has scoliosis. It’s real brave of her to share her problem with the world.
Hugs to you and your daughter. I am also sharing less on my blog now that my 9 year old is not feeling like sharing his life as much. I am proud of your daughter for being willing to share, it will help so many others in the same or similar situation. When we help others, we help ourselves, I think.
I had missed your posts and wondered how you were! Both of your homebound posts are truly appreciated. Knowing when to keep quiet in a public sphere about growing homeschoolers is something I deal with as well. Your thoughts about guilt were well expressed and good for thought!
Praying for your girl!