If Judy Blume wasn't part of your growing up years, I mean, did you even grow up? LOL I think they made a movie out of "Are You There God?" and I wanted to see it with my sister, but we never got a chance.
Oh, my goodness! What you endured! But what a wonderful find by your mom. And what a tender way of feeling a little less alone. Gotta love Judy Blume ❤️
Going through the trauma of a spinal brace as an adolescent is a huge deal. I am sending love back through time to little Carissa. Of course, as a chiropractor, I have seen many similar cases and it always shatters me to have to break the news to a family that the child may have an advanced curvature.
As a fellow lover of Judy Blume my five words for this essay of hope are self-acceptance, advocacy, resilience, strength, uniqueness.
My son and I have read almost all of the Judy Blume books (him for the first time, me for the 4,683 times.) Deenie is still a favorite and I can't believe you went through this in real life. I love that you found comfort in that book. Judy Blume is a gift. XO
Wow, Clarissa, what a terrible thing to have to go through! Can’t even imagine how rough that must have been. It probably shock you to hear that I never read anything by Judy Blume. But I’ve heard/read hundreds of comments from women about how important her books were to them. I’m glad they helped you too.
I'm so sorry you had to go through all that shite at such a tender age. The fact there was a Judy Blume book with a character you could related to is amazing. What would we have done without Judy Blume back then?! How would we know anything about feelings or periods, or any teen girl type stuff? I remember reading all of her books, but I had forgotten about Deenie. Thanks for sharing your story of hope.
Love this Carissa! And I, too, was doing half cartwheels, in my underwear, at age five….and er…fifteen? With Oreo cookies never too far away either. We would’ve been a hoot together.
Those braces were medieval. I’m glad you survived it all and it catalyzed your wicked sense of humor.:)
I had the equivalent of that brace in my mouth as an orthodontic contraption that cut my tongue every time I thrust my tongue forward which apparently I did or do a lot. Anyways it was to help with my bite and at the time a sanctioned solution but man, it hurt a lot. Things doctors wouldn’t do now but did back then??
I had that too! When I was 7 or so because I had a lisp. Sharp prongs prevented my tongue from moving forward. What the heck were inventors thinking? They did not have kids.
Deenie was my favourite Judy Blume book. She was older and I related to her more even though I didn’t wear a brace, because I was an outlier in my school, did not fit in at all.
That thing looks certifiably awful. Anyone who wore one of those for more than 24 hours deserves a ticket to free massages for life as far as I'm concerned.
I'm glad you at least found some comfort in the book. I know I've had a similar feeling about many books throughout my life in times of suckiness.
I’m so sorry you felt so alone in those days. I wish I could’ve been more sensitive to your needs. I really just want to give your 12 year old self a big hug right now. 🥰
What a fascinating story CK -- thanks for sharing. Medicine seeks treatments that conform to the standards of care and coloring outside the lines. It takes a lot for any condition to be treated differently. I would imagine there is a greater range of treatments for scoliosis nowadays.
If Judy Blume wasn't part of your growing up years, I mean, did you even grow up? LOL I think they made a movie out of "Are You There God?" and I wanted to see it with my sister, but we never got a chance.
Right? Blume was part parent. The movie was good!
Judy Blume is an American Treasure.
She changed so many lives. 🥰
Oh, my goodness! What you endured! But what a wonderful find by your mom. And what a tender way of feeling a little less alone. Gotta love Judy Blume ❤️
❤️🥰🙏
Going through the trauma of a spinal brace as an adolescent is a huge deal. I am sending love back through time to little Carissa. Of course, as a chiropractor, I have seen many similar cases and it always shatters me to have to break the news to a family that the child may have an advanced curvature.
As a fellow lover of Judy Blume my five words for this essay of hope are self-acceptance, advocacy, resilience, strength, uniqueness.
That must be tough; breaking the news to a family. Thx for the love and five words. 👏🥰🙏
Most often they are grateful to know so they can get to work on it, but yes it’s hard.
That must’ve been grueling at that age, when all you want to do is fit in. But in the long run, what doesn’t kill you makes you funnier.
Was that a quote from Neitsche’s younger brother? 😂
Your mom found a way to see you through this. Thank you.
Yes, she did. 🙏🥰
My son and I have read almost all of the Judy Blume books (him for the first time, me for the 4,683 times.) Deenie is still a favorite and I can't believe you went through this in real life. I love that you found comfort in that book. Judy Blume is a gift. XO
Thx, Shelly. I love that your son read Judy too! 🥰
Wow, Clarissa, what a terrible thing to have to go through! Can’t even imagine how rough that must have been. It probably shock you to hear that I never read anything by Judy Blume. But I’ve heard/read hundreds of comments from women about how important her books were to them. I’m glad they helped you too.
Were you a Hardy Boys fan or were those books before your time?
I did like the Hardy Boys. But my favorite books were a series called The Great Brain. They were a lot of fun.
Love it.
I don’t know that series. Mystery? Informational?
They’re about a too-smart-for-his-own-good kid in the early 1900s who’s always coming up with money-making schemes. Trouble usually ensues.
What a perfect story for Tara's hope project!
I'm so sorry you had to go through all that shite at such a tender age. The fact there was a Judy Blume book with a character you could related to is amazing. What would we have done without Judy Blume back then?! How would we know anything about feelings or periods, or any teen girl type stuff? I remember reading all of her books, but I had forgotten about Deenie. Thanks for sharing your story of hope.
Oh my goodness!!! Terrifying, heartbreaking. I hope it helped after all of that! But OMG. Sigh…. Sending hugs and best wishes.
All good. Thx. 🙏
Love this Carissa! And I, too, was doing half cartwheels, in my underwear, at age five….and er…fifteen? With Oreo cookies never too far away either. We would’ve been a hoot together.
Those braces were medieval. I’m glad you survived it all and it catalyzed your wicked sense of humor.:)
Thx, Kimberly. There’s no better way to attempt a cartwheel. 😂
Agreed. Something about the undies that helps.
Love this.
I had the equivalent of that brace in my mouth as an orthodontic contraption that cut my tongue every time I thrust my tongue forward which apparently I did or do a lot. Anyways it was to help with my bite and at the time a sanctioned solution but man, it hurt a lot. Things doctors wouldn’t do now but did back then??
I had that too! When I was 7 or so because I had a lisp. Sharp prongs prevented my tongue from moving forward. What the heck were inventors thinking? They did not have kids.
Deenie was my favourite Judy Blume book. She was older and I related to her more even though I didn’t wear a brace, because I was an outlier in my school, did not fit in at all.
I’m so sorry you had to go through that. 💕
Thx, Sheila. Thx for reading.
That thing looks certifiably awful. Anyone who wore one of those for more than 24 hours deserves a ticket to free massages for life as far as I'm concerned.
I'm glad you at least found some comfort in the book. I know I've had a similar feeling about many books throughout my life in times of suckiness.
Thx for reading, Rick. A life time of free massages sounds fair. 😄
I’m so sorry you felt so alone in those days. I wish I could’ve been more sensitive to your needs. I really just want to give your 12 year old self a big hug right now. 🥰
Thx, sis. We were all just trying to find our way.
What a fascinating story CK -- thanks for sharing. Medicine seeks treatments that conform to the standards of care and coloring outside the lines. It takes a lot for any condition to be treated differently. I would imagine there is a greater range of treatments for scoliosis nowadays.
My daughter wore a brace. Totally different. That said, it didn’t work and she had to have spinal fusion surgery.