All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
Pain, Progress, and Purpose
My stomach ached and throbbed with
crippling pain, leaving me immobilized.
I wondered if my life
would ever go back to McDonald’s kids meals,
birthday cakes, and smiley-faced tater tots.
“We are very concerned with Sarah’s height,”
said one monotone doctor.
“She hasn’t grown in over a year,”
said another.
As a frantic team of white coats hastily came to a decision:
an endoscopy.
On my gurney, wearing little blue hospital socks,
I waived goodbye to my parents
as six of nurses wheeled me to the OR.
Waking up,
as I peered at the lengthy list of foods, I noticed
chicken nuggets, pizza, french fries, and donuts...
did not make the list.
Waiters in restaurants glared at me as if I was speaking
another language when I asked them what was gluten free on the menu—
even though I knew a Caesar salad was my only option.
And McDonald’s kids meals, birthday cakes,
and smiley-faced tater tots never made their way back into my diet.
I am no longer in crippling, immobilizing pain,
only the remainder of my painful past.
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 0 comments.