Volume 124 Issue 134
kansan.com
Friday, April 13, 2012
Study says an aspect of business overlooked in classes
SPEAK
THE POWER OF LOVE HOW SUPPORT CAN HELP IN TOUGHEST OF TIMES
// ALLISON BOND
X-rav of Allison's back before the surgery with an 80-degree curve in the spine.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Allison grew 3 inches in one day after going through scoliosis corrective surgery and having metal rods placed to straighten the spine.
I stared at the seventh-grade girl sitting across from me and all the memories came flooding back: the pain, confusion and helplessness. I had just learned that Molly, a new girl in the youth group I work for at Lawrence First United Methodist Church, had recently gone through a corrective scoliosis surgery, the same surgery I had gone through when I was her exact age. After a few seconds of shock I asked her, "Were you scared?" She silently nodded yes. I whispered back to her, "Me too."
My first memory about my curved back is of my uncle talking to my parents as they stare at me. My uncle had noticed that my back was slightly curved while I was in my bathing suit one afternoon at the pool. A series of doctor visits ensued after that and after touching my toes about 100 times while doctors examined me, I was eventually fitted for a back brace. Wearing a big hunk of plastic under your clothes to keep your back straight is not the most appealing thing for a middle school girl. Add the headgear and glasses I was already sporting and I
was the dorkiest middle school student in my grade. I felt like a walking magnet. I had to have help adjusting the brace sometimes.My friends were always supportive and ready to help.
Skip ahead a year and my next memory is my mom and I in a doctor's office, looking at x-rays and getting the news that my spine was now curved like an S at 80 degrees. The back brace had failed to hold my curve in place and surgery was the only way to correct the problem. I sink to the floor as a hot ball of tears stream down my face. The surgery would correct the problem by fusing two metal rods on either side of my spine to straighten my back permanently. As a seventh grader I had no idea what that meant. All I knew was that I was scared. After explaining what had to happen, it felt like the doctor then walked out of the room like it was any other workday; no emotion, no compassion. From that point on I hated doctors. And I saw a lot of doctors after that. I saw doctors for second opinions, for checkups and finally for my surgery. Major back surgery is a lot
for a seventh grade girl to wrap her mind around. Those months were filled with fear, wondering what surgery felt like, being terrified of the possibility of paralysis, complications doctors kept saying could happen and wondering if I would live through it. My dad tried his best to comfort me, and explain exactly what would happen.
Flash forward again and it's April 2, 2003. Surgery day. The day starts early at 5 a.m. at the hospital. An IV gets put in my arm and then it's waiting till surgery time. Family and select friends come to see me. I specifically remember Matt Johnson, my youth director at the time, and Craig Hauschild, my pastor, coming and praying with my family and me before I go into surgery. The comfort and support I received from Matt and Craig that morning filled me with courage.
The surgical room is a lot like you see in movies: clean, sterile and a team of people in masks busy preprepping around you. The anesthesia puts me out before I can count to 10. The next thing I remember is waking up to half a dozen
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nurses around me to what feels like pins poking me. I quickly pass out again. My mother told me later that after a nine and a half hour surgery, I had very low blood pressure and that the nurses were finding it difficult to raise. I don't know when I wake up again, but when I do I'm as thirsty as Jesus walking in the desert for 40 days. Patients aren't allowed to have water for 24 hours after surgery. I want water bad. I can't talk because of the respiratory device shoved down my throat so I motion, almost violently, that I am thirsty. It doesn't help. The nurses finally give me ice cubes. I could drink a whole gallon of water. And all I get are a couple of ice cubes. It was the first of several trials that would follow over the next four months.
I don't remember much else of my hospital stay. Over the next week there were challenges like taking my first steps, getting my full lung capacity back up to par and staying awake long enough to see visitors.
After getting out of the hospital, I was confined to my parents' bed, completely dependent on other people for the basic necessities from eating to taking showers. Although I thought it torture, I had to keep walking to strengthen my back muscles. I didn't like walking but days I didn't were the worst. I would scream at the top of my lungs, writhing around on the bed in pain, as my mom rushed up to get me more medication. I was lonely too. My favorite part of the day was when my brothers came home from school. I finally had company. I hated weekends though, because everyone was busy and I was stuck at home in bed.
Relationships are what got me though my seventh grade year. My family took care of me in ways I didn't realize until much farther down the road. Little things from my Uncle Scott building me stairs to get into bed, to all the get well cards I received through my recovery, showed greater love than can be said. My church family always kept me in their prayers too. On Easter, I received the special gift of the church service coming to me. The contemporary praise band gathered around my bedroom and sang songs and prayed. My school friends and teachers let me know I was in their thoughts with visits, pictures and decorated banners to let me know I was missed. It's amazing what the power of love can accomplish. It can take a lonely, dorky seventh grade girl and give her hope. Love was exactly what I needed.
3/KANSAN
Bliss,
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Student's memory honored among Greeks
RACHEL SALYER rsalyer@kansan.com
The Third Annual Jason Wren Initiative reminded the Greek community of the importance of moderation and understanding the effects of alcoholism yesterday evening in Budig Hall.
The initiative, hosted by University chapters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Delta Gamma Sorority, is designed to honor Jason Wren's memory. Wren was a freshman SAE pledge who died of alcohol poisoning March 8, 2009.
Toren Volkmann, a recovering alcoholic and author of "From Binge to Blackout," shared with the audience his own story of alcoholism and the idea that it can happen to anyone. He showed pictures of his own party experiences. Wren's name, and the names of the event sponsors, were displayed on a banner hanging behind him.
The event was open to everyone free of charge, but event chair and SAE member Austin Wagner said that, of the about 700 people in attendance, the majority were sorority members. In the past, SAE asked 20 percent of all members from University sororities and fraternities to attend. Wagner said SAE did not do so this year because of a miscommunication.
"I was from a normal family with a decent recipe for a very good outcome," Volkmann said, "but once I put myself in the category and started exhibiting that behavior, I was just as likely to become an alcoholic as anyone."
Volkmann, who started drinking at age 14, said he never would have expected himself to become an alcoholic.
Before dismissing the audience, Chapin McLane, SAE president, reminded those in attendance that the point of the conference was not to tell students to be sober, but to ask them to drink responsibly.
Angela Guist, a freshman from Ottawa, said she and her friends attended the event to support
Wren talked about having blackouts even though he thought he was drinking socially. Eventually, those blackouts led to his alcohol dependency.
"I have unfortunately blacked out a few times, and it's not a good feeling when you have no idea what happened," Guist said. "People say it's a part of the experience, but listening to him makes you think of how dangerous it can be."
The initiative started in 2010 and continued after Wren's father, Jay Wren, filed a wrongful death suit against the fraternity.
Wagner said he hopes to see the organization's efforts continue.
"Even after we're all gone, the message will still need to be said," he said.
Jason would have been a senior
their sorority, Sigma Kappa, which donated to the event.
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
Toren Volkmann, author of "From Binge to Blackout" speaks to students in the Greek community about alcoholism Thursday night at Budig Hall. Volkmann was the guest speaker for the annual Jason Wren Initiative which was created to spread awareness about drinking and alcoholism after the death of Jason Wren in 2009.
CLASSIFIEDS 11 CRYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 12
CROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUOKU 4
SEE WREN PAGE 6
all contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Today is National Scrabble Day. So if you've got a seven-letter word and don't mind upsetting a chum, thrown it down and don't apologize.
Today's Weather
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, some possibly severe.
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Avoid golf courses for now.