My husband and I had been trying to have a baby for three years with no success. In May 2008, I underwent a surgery that was supposed to increase our chances of conceiving as well as relieve the excruciating pain that I had been going through every month since I started menstruating. The surgeon was to remove endometriosis growths in my abdominal cavity and sever a nerve near my pelvis which might alleviate the pain. My surgeon did remove what growths she could find and cut the nerve as much as she felt comfortable.

Unknowingly, she had also nicked my colon.

I was sent home to heal from the initial surgery, and returned to the hospital two days later in unbelievable pain. I ended up in the hospital for three weeks surrounded by my husband, family, and friends. In six days I had three surgeries; the first two to clean out the feces in my abdomen cavity, and the last surgery ended in an ostomy to the left of my belly button so my colon could heal.

During my hospital stay, both of my lungs filled with fluid and were subsequently drained, I went crazy on the drug mix of morphine and Benadryl, underwent a blood transfusion when I became anemic and my body stopped producing white blood cells, and finally arrived home with a gaping hole in my abdomen and a colostomy bag. In the days and weeks that followed, I spent most of the time on my back, trying to fight through the pain, grappling with the fact that I now went to the bathroom out of my stomach.

The Long Road to Recovery

Slowly I began to feel a little more like myself: I eventually stopped taking the pain killers and after three months my wound finally healed. I went to physical therapy to build back lost muscle and strength. Six months after the initial surgery, the ostomy was reversed and I returned home from the hospital to heal once more; this time with just a few scars.

In January 2009 I went back to the gym, committed to getting back to full strength. In February, inspired by a close friend, I signed up for the Danskin Triathlon. I spent the summer of 2009 training for the race with my husband: swim, bike, run, repeat, further and further every day.

The weekend of the race arrived. I was a little nervous and plenty excited. The first group to start the race was the breast cancer survivors. Melissa Etheridge's I Run for Life started to play. My eyes filled with tears. Those women about to race had surpassed insurmountable odds. I felt like I had as well. This race was to be my personal celebration of my life, of being saved a year and a half earlier. I had made it.

I have now raced in two Danskin Triathlon's and have just signed up for my third. My husband and I have also completed a half marathon and we practice yoga each week. Without my experience in the hospital and recovery, I would not be who I am today. It demonstrated to me how deep one can dig within oneself when such strength is required. I am thankful for each day, for all of the people in my life who I love, and so thankful I choose life.

Resilience Application

Since World War I, psychologists have sought to understand and help people who have been exposed to traumatic events; yet, reports of posttraumatic growth following adverse events have far outnumbered reports of psychiatric disorders. Many people experience positive changes as a direct result of the traumatic event, including, but not limited to, improved relationships, a greater appreciation for life, spiritual development, and a greater sense of personal strength (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). Hardship after a traumatic event is to be expected, but in many instances, so is growth.

In what ways have you grown after a difficult life event?

Resource

Tedeschi, R.G., & Calhoun, L. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: A new perspective on psychotraumatology. Psychiatric Times, 21(4).