Scoliosis: The Strength to Bend and Not Break

Prologue

A teenager named Rianna fights through a type of scoliosis called idiopathic. She learns that scoliosis is a very common condition and finds a way to cope without the fear of being judged. With encouragement from her mom, teacher, friends, and family Rianna feels like she can accomplish the challenges that come her way.

For my biggest supporter: My Mom, Sara Kesablyan.

With the help of my AB Teacher, Mrs Fletcher, and the one who always supported me, My Mom, and some people at Hanger's clinic who inspired me.

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful young girl named Rianna. As she matured, Rianna began to experience an abnormal curvature of her spine - a condition known as scoliosis.

The diagnosis filled Rianna and her family with fear. The doctors warned them that scoliosis can cause severe back pain and drastically reduce Rianna's quality of life.

Resigned to her fate, Rianna began wearing a large metal brace day and night in an effort to limit the damage being done. While the brace kept her spine from becoming too disfigured, the cosmetic effects were heartbreaking.

Rianna eventually began to resent her brace and even herself, and she felt like a walking skeleton. This drove her deep into depression, until one day, she had a fateful encounter.

On her way home from school, Rianna ran into her old school teacher, Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Jones inquired as to why Rianna was wearing the brace. Rianna then shared her story.


Mrs. Jones offered Rianna a glimmer of hope: she told her of a traditional folk dance performed by people with scoliosis. This dance, she said, strengthened the bodies of those afflicted, and gave them freedom of movement.

With Rianna's mom by her side supporting her day and night Rianna felt very proud of being who she was, Rianna's mom never gave up on her and never gave up on her brace, Rianna was inspired by her mom.

Mrs. Jones offered Rianna a glimmer of hope: she told her of a traditional folk dance performed by people with scoliosis. This dance, she said, strengthened the bodies of those afflicted, and gave them freedom of movement.

With Rianna's mom by her side supporting her day and night Rianna felt very proud of being who she was, Rianna's mom never gave up on her and never gave up on her brace, Rianna was inspired by her mom.

After Mrs. Jones told her about how people with scoliosis do traditional dancing, Rianna got inspired and it encouraged her to join an Armenian dance group. Once her mom found a dance studio she immediately told the dance teacher, Mrs. Karine, about her condition. After a couple of days of her dance life, she knew that she found her passion. Later on, Karine taught her a traditional Armenian folk dance that also made her spine and spirit stronger.

Rianna was captivated by the message. After the meeting with Mrs. Karine, Rianna begged Mrs. Karine to teach her the traditional dance. After a while learning the moves, she was finally able to shed her brace and perform the dance in public. The dance became a symbol of her newfound strength, courage and resilience.

As Rianna progressed, she joined sports including soccer, track and field, volleyball, and cross country. Rianna's scoliosis had actually helped her take advantage of the love of dancing and sports.

Some kids at Rianna's school even wore bulky clothes and hid their braces when later on Rianna wore the brace loud and proud in public, some kids came to Rianna and talked about the same disabilities and soon or later kids started wearing their braces out in public.

To this day, Rianna remains an inspiration to many. She is an example of how one can overcome even the most debilitating of obstacles and tap into the power of the human spirit.

''You were given this life because you are STRONG ENOUGH to live it."- Rianna.

"Bent But Not Broken." - Rianna.

''You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have."- Rianna.