The British royal family is known for keeping personal details out of the headlines, but Princess Eugenie recently bucked tradition in favor of opening up about what it’s like living with the spinal condition scoliosis.
To mark International Scoliosis Awareness Day, Eugenie took to Instagram to share an X-ray of her spine in addition to writing: "Today is International Scoliosis Awareness Day and I’m very proud to share my X Rays for the very first time. I also want to honor the incredible staff at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital who work tirelessly to save lives and make people better. They made me better and I am delighted to be their patron of the Redevelopment Appeal."
According to Mayo Clinic, scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that typically occurs during a growth spurt just before puberty. If someone is diagnosed with scoliosis, they are monitored via regular X-rays and may have to wear a corrective brace or have surgery to fix it.
Eugenie says that she had surgery for the condition at the age of 12 and provides more details of her eight-hour procedure in a three-minute video she made with the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
"They put metal rods in my neck and 8-inch screws up my back, which have now fused together and keep me straight," she says in the video. "I’m living proof that all these young people who have the same thing as I have… I have done it and been through it and I want to be able to help as much as I can for everyone."
Being a 12-year-old human is hard enough without having to worry about having a curved spine, wearing a brace or having surgery, and Eugenie speaking out about her experience may help others who are also going through it feel less alone.
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