1 year ago today I was in a hospital in Austin, Texas. My life changed forever that day. A renowned spine specialist placed 28 screws and two steel rods in my spine as he untwisted and straightened my vertebrae. For probably 20 years I struggled with scoliosis. I was diagnosed at 17, but doctors told me I was too old for a full back brace. (thank goodness because wearing a hard plastic brace from your collarbone to your tailbone for 23 hours a day for years sounds completely miserable.) I was told at that time that I had a 39 degree curve and it would most likely never get worse. They were wrong.

My spine slowly started to collapse after the birth of my second child. I was constantly in pain. (Pain I didn't even quite comprehend until it was gone after my surgery.) My scoliosis also deflated my self-esteem. I didn't know anyone with this problem besides my Mother. I had a bump on the right side of my back that grew more pronounced if I bent over. My left rib stuck out farther than my right and my breasts were uneven due to my deformed spine. I hated that word. Deformed. Such an ugly word that made me feel so unattractive.

About 3 years ago I started looking into surgery. I read everything I could get my hands on, went to lots of different doctors, (some who told me I was making a big deal of nothing, others who highly recommended I have surgery and assured me my spine would only continue to collapse.)

I ended up finding Dr. Matthew Geck in Austin, Texas and I talked my husband into making the long trek just to see him. He agreed, my scoliosis would only get worse, but I was terrified of surgery. I couldn't imagine never rounding my spine ever again. I thought I would be a robot. Even worse, I heard stories of surgery gone wrong. Paralysis, increasing pain, and infections. I scheduled the surgery for the spring of 2014 and then chickened out because I was so scared. I was also terrified of losing my job. I love what I do. It's my passion in life and I heard many stories of people not being able to return to work for 6 months or more.

Finally, I decided to take the plunge, and Thursday, October 30th I walked into Seton Medical Center ready to be sliced and diced.

I have never in my life had a peace come over me like it did in that pre-op room. I wasn't scared, I was ready, and I knew I had made the right decision.

Waking up, it didn't take long for the pain to set in. I have never experienced such intense pain in my life, and the nausea, oh the nausea! I was sick to my stomach for 2 months. So many pills, and the ice cold medicine being shoved into the 2 IV's in my arms nearly every hour is a feeling I will never forget. I didn't sleep more than 1 1/2 hours at a time for over a month, and I spent the next 5 days and the next 3 weeks in a tiny little hotel room in Texas, but it was all worth it.

Today I have a beautiful scar that extends from the base of my neck to my lower back. You can see some of the screws poking out. I love each and every one of my screws and my rods.

Before my scoliosis surgery I used to think "why don't miracles happen today like they did in the bible." It tested my faith. Today I have no doubt that miracles do happen. For me they happened through a skilled surgeon's hands.

My scoliosis also brought me incredible blessings of friendships I would have never formed. I have spoken with so many women going through this same journey since my surgery, including a young girl named Taylor here in Boise who is scheduled for surgery in a few weeks.  They have inspired me and made me feel so not alone.

Thank you to every one who has seen me through this journey. My husband, who coordinated everything and took care of our two kids while I was down and out for so long. My parents who traveled to Texas, slept on the floor, and never left my side, my neighbors who brought meals and words of encouragement, and Rick, who called me every single day I was recovering and assured me he would not replace me on the show. (I returned to work at a miraculous 4 weeks after surgery, no doubt thanks to many prayers.)

To Dr. Geck, I know you will probably never read this, but you are my angel in this life. You have strengthened and fixed so many people and if there is such a thing as heaven, I have no doubt you are going there.

If you have scoliosis, please feel free to reach out to me anytime at carly.cash@townsquaremedia.com

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