The Top Ten Things I Learned While My Jaw Was Broken

Eleven years ago, I embarked on a journey that serves as a turning point in the lives of most kids.  'Tis is a long and physically demanding odyssey that bleeds over into adolescence.  There develops much pain and resentment over many years before the score can eventually begin to settle.  Although the severity of any actions taken will vary from case to case, one thing is certain: There can be no turning back.


Unless you forget to wear your retainer.


Yes; Eleven years ago, my parents brought me to an orthodontist.


After six years of spacers, a pallet expander, retainers, and braces, the time came to free my pearly-whites.  There may never have been a happier day in my life!  Nary a day went by when I didn't wear my retainers as directed; I certainly wasn't going through any of that metal-mouthed nonsense again if I could help it.  


And yet the day came, two years later, when my top retainer failed to adhere properly.  After a few minutes of forceful pushing, it cracked clear in half.   


Thus began a new cycle of pulling wisdom teeth, x-raying, examining growth plates, and finally, tragically, the diagnosing of my sad state.  And so it came to be that I would undergo corrective Maxillofacial Orthognathic surgery.  


You all know the rest of the story.


Last week I stopped wearing rubber bands and chewed my first solid food in ten weeks.  Yesterday my orthodontist took the steel ties and surgical wires off my braces.  I can speak, eat, and drink not only normally, but better than I could before all this.  My only restrictions are on contact sports, but let's be serious-- I'm only an asset to you if I'm on the opposing team.  Things are only getting better from here, and I couldn't be happier with all the different results of going through with the surgery.  


I've experienced more change in the last ten months than I did in perhaps all my life before.  For lack of having a way to say this without sounding cliched, we're finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  This whole ordeal has been many different things, but the most important is what a learning experience it's been.  I've honestly discovered a lot about myself and about my small corner of the world.  And so, here are the ten most important things I learned from having a broken jaw:




10) Hospitals Suck.  Yeah, it's been a harrowing few months, what with surgical wires, drastic diet changes, and a ton of medication, but my 36 hours in the hospital were by far the worst of my life.  They wake you up at uncomfortable hours of the night to take your blood pressure, you have to unplug an IV and an oxygen monitor just to go to the bathroom, the food is miserably tasteless, and the TVs don't even work.  In my experience anyway.  I hope with all my heart that you never need to be checked into one.


9) I love oatmeal.  I don't know how this never came up before, especially since it's one of the best sellers in the mornings at Au Bon Pain.  Oatmeal, as it turns out, is healthy, filling, relatively low in calories, and pretty good with some brown sugar sprinkled in.  Who knew?


8) There is SO MUCH I don't know.  My erratic sleep schedule when I first got home, thrown off by all the anesthesia, in addition to being unable to drive while my parents worked and my siblings were in school meant I had a lot of time alone to read, watch TV and movies, and explore the internet.  The more I do all of that, the more I realize just how little I understand about the world.  It's kind of liberating to know I'll never run out of things to learn about. 


7) How I Met Your Mother is the most fantastic sitcom ever.  There's nothing not to love.  The characters are all witty and engaging, the content is a near perfect balance of entertainment and plot development, and the guest cast really pack a punch in star power (Try Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Lopez, Lucy Hale, Enrique Iglesias, Katie Holmes, Britney Spears, Heidi Klum, Regis Philbin, Alex Trebek, Tim Gunn, and Katy Perry!).  I got my sister into it with me.  It's cute because when something shocking happens we both pause it and stare at each other in jaw-dropped awe in perfect unison, or we both crack up at the same tiny details.  Alas, I digress.  This is an excellent show. 


6) Liquid Dieting is a really successful way to lose weight.  When I was living on one I didn't want to eat much anyway, but I imagine it's much harder to do when you have a normal appetite.  On a related note, Trader Joe's has WONDERFUL low calorie, flavorful, organic soups that are worth checking out.   Also, V8 is godly.  This brings me to my next point.  It's fine to want to get in shape or be more healthy, but...


5) Love yourself.  Yes, I know this is cheesy and ridiculous.  Yes, there will always be things I try to improve about myself: I wish I was a less ghostly color, I wish my stomach was more toned, and I wish my eyelashes were longer.  Really though, I appreciate my self.  I'm at peace with my petite stature, I love my curly hair, and, most importantly, I'm proud of the person I am.  I enjoy my own weird taste in books and music.  I can look in the mirror and smile at the person I see there.  Life is just happier when you stop being so self-critical. 


4) Food is delicious.  Okay, maybe I didn't learn that by having a broken jaw.  I learned that by being Italian, but I certainly was reminded of this life lesson by not having any for two months.  My whole outlook on eating has changed.  Eat more slowly and really taste what you're eating.  Appreciate every bite.  I'm serious.  God forbid you find yourself in a position not to be able to enjoy food, but appreciate it while you can.  My stomach has shrunken quite a bit so I don't eat nearly as much anymore, but that's okay because every bite is an adventure.  


3) There are people who care about you.  I've always counted myself blessed by the number of supportive friends and family in my life, but I can see more clearly now.  No matter what your story is or where you're at in life, there will be people that love you and want to help you.  Let them.  I'm beyond thankful for all the people that were eager to check on me, you guys know that.  (Just for the record, I started writing out the names of all the people that were most supportive, but the list was annoyingly too long for anyone to want to read.)  I've also learned just how valuable communication is.  Admittedly, I SUCK at keeping in touch, but I'm trying to be better now.  For everyone who has cared about my welfare through all this, I want to be there for you too.  I want to know what's up in your life, when you need me, and when you deserve accolades.  Not only do I owe it to you all to support you as you've supported me, but I really want to do so.  I will never stop thanking you. 


2) Appreciate everything.  There's always something to be thankful for.  There is some glimmer of good everywhere you look.  Don't roll your eyes.  What am I consciously more appreciative of?   Having fully functional senses, having fingers to play music with, my supportive and loving parents, the brother and sister who can make me smile without even trying, being being able to drive, owning a car, the invention of flip-flops, the creation of pasta, how beautiful my street is, and how nice a cold pool feels on a hot day, to name the first handful of things that come to mind.  The world is big and complicated and difficult, but it is so beautiful.


1) This too shall pass.  Everything--good, bad, and ugly--ends.  If things are good, cherish them.  If you're unhappy, make a change.  If times are tough, grit your teeth and power through.  There's nothing you can't survive.  There are obvious exceptions to that rule, but not on the scale of an average day.  I don't want to sound preachy, but take it from someone who experienced both extremes within a month of each other.  One day I was studying what I love most in a beautiful city, living mere steps away from some of the best people I've ever had the fortune to meet, and two weeks later I was only leaving the house for doctor visits and was living on chicken soup and apple juice.  Being pessimistic gets you nowhere.  Sure, be realistic.  But take a deep breath and stay optimistic.  




I don't mean to sound pretentious, but I mean every syllable of every word on this page.  I hope whenever you go through tough times, you can turn it into something good for yourself.  You're strong.  I have faith in you and I'll always be here for you.