Personal Narrative: My First Surgery

“Why did I have to be born like this? Why can’t I just be normal?!” As a young girl, this phrase often escaped my lips. It was difficult to understand why I had to endure such an awful thing. Waking up in the hospital in pain while all my friends were out playing was something I just couldn’t wrap my head around. When I was born, I was diagnosed with a condition called fibular hemimelia. I am missing my fibula, a bone in the lower part of my leg, and one toe on my left foot. In addition to these problems, my left leg is shorter than my right leg, and my left ankle is fused in an odd position. This makes it where I cannot bend my foot and have to walk on my toes, without my heel touching the ground. Trying to envision someone walking like this is tough, and you probably think I walk like someone from another planet; however, most people don’t recognize my leg problem until they notice the scars I have as a result of the surgeries I have gone through. At the age of only one-year-old, I had my first surgery. Little known to my family, this was just a small step in a long journey of challenges, pain, and tears. The procedures got more unpleasant and intense as they went along. When I was four, I had a surgery in which the doctor purposely
It has taught me how to work hard and persevere through difficult situations. Recovering from my surgery and going through physical therapy has helped me become a go-getter who will do my best to accomplish whatever I set my mind to. I am an optimistic person who has a positive outlook on every situation because I know that all circumstances could be worse than they currently are, and they could also change your life for the better in the long run. I now understand the importance of being empathetic with others and recognize the fact that we will all be faced with trials and tribulations and need encouragement from each other to get through tough