Curved

My sweet little Ally has severe scoliosis. Her mom pulled me aside the first day I met their family at Meet the Teacher. She asked to talk to me in private.

Ally has severe scoliosis, a major curve in her spine. She is probably going to have to have a major surgery this year, and she is going to be in a brace and could miss multiple weeks of school. I requested that she has a female teacher, as I want her to feel comfortable.

I could tell how concerned her mom was. Can you imagine? A nine year old girl whose spine is curving the wrong way. Knowing your daughter is going to undergoing a major procedure when she still believes in the toothfairy.

I assured her mom that I would keep an eye on her daughter, that I'd support her in any way I can, and that I'd be very flexible and understanding with how much school she misses.

Ally bounds around the room and the world with no hesitation. She’ll come up to me and update me about her hospital visits and possible surgery, with a look of such interest on her face, anxiously awaiting whatever comes next. Her face is curious and her eyes are wide.

I make sure to really take the time to listen to her stories. I want to be a safe place - I want her to know she can tell me absolutely anything.

This morning Ally came up to me, first thing. Ms. Seals, I got my new brace! Do you want to see it? 

Of course, I said. She pulled up her shirt to show me the colorful brace underneath. 

Wow! Look at it! I exclaimed, How does it feel?

It’s good! Except sometimes this part sticks into my armpit. She pointed to the curve at the top right under her arm. It reminds me to sit up straight. She straightened up her back as she said it, standing up tall.

Oh wow, I said. I bet that would get uncomfortable. Well, you just let me know if you ever need anything, okay? I’m glad you got it!

She bounded back to her seat. 

After I took my kids to investments I checked my email and found one from Ally’s mom.

Ms. Seals, I wanted to let you know Ally got her new brace today. She was worried kids were going to make fun of her for it. It’s a big change. I told her that if there are any issues to talk with you about it. 

My blood boiled. If I as much as hear a kid whisper one slightly negative word about my sweet Ally and the brace she’s bravely and fearlessly wearing to straighten her spine, I swear hell will break loose. I made sure her mom knew just as much.

Later, I asked Ally to come talk with me for a minute. 

Hey, how’s your brace? I asked.

It’s fine. She replied.

I just want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. If it ever bothers you or if you feel uncomfortable wearing it at school, you just let me know, okay? You can talk to me about anything.

Okay, she said. She thought for a moment.

Hey, Miss Seals, what do I do if I’m on my period?

I smiled.

Same thing, Ally. You just let me know. You can do whatever you need to do - we’ll figure it out. You can talk to me about that too.

She didn’t say anything - she just looked at me as I answered her innocent question. And then she threw her arms around me, her head buried in my neck. I wrapped my arms around her. I felt her brace, the firm armor that wraps around her spine, trying to recorrect it, keeping it from curving anymore than it already has. I felt the brace that wraps around her stomach, around her chest, around her heart. The brace her mom told me took them far too long to put on this morning, as Ally is a fashionista and she couldn't figure out how to wear it with her skirts. My hands clasped around the hard plastic edges as I held my sweet girl, my innocent kid who doesn’t know yet quite how cruel the world can be to people who don’t look the same, don’t walk the same, don’t stand quite as straight. I closed my eyes. “You’re so sweet,” I whispered. And I swear, I swear from the depths of my heart, that sweet girl will walk throughout my room just as she needs to, whether it’s straight as an arrow or curved as a circle. She will walk into my room every morning and she will feel safe and secure and seen. She will know she’s one of us. That brace will protect her spine and I will protect her heart.