A little part of me that means a lot

I celebrated a very important milestone recently on the 23rd of February this year, something I haven't shared before on the blog. You see, 2 years ago, on that date, I had a major surgery that I had wanted since I could talk - almost - Corrective jaw surgery. I had lived with my whole life, quite a bad under bite (& it affected my teeth) and although it didn't dictate who I was, it was a major source of insecurity and general unhappiness when it came to who I saw when I looked in the mirror. As with everything though, I won't complain unless I am fixing something so mum -  (who was my biggest support) - & I got me on waiting lists for the top surgeons and orthodontists in Perth to fix it. The process was long, and the surgery that resulted is major (they break your top and bottom jaw and re align them with bolts) but the final result is me today and the happiness and closure I feel from it all. My top jaw was broken and moved down and forward to it's correct position and my bottom jaw was broken and moved up and back in to it's correct position. I've always been positive, but the best way I can put it is it made my outsides match my insides. I have ashamedly, shy'd away from talking about it publicly in the past as after my surgery and subsequent changes physically and emotionally I had some negative reactions from 'friends'. 2012 for me is the year about embracing change and living my best life and with my jaw surgery being such a major part of my positive, happier change I'm not ashamed of it anymore or worried to talk about it. Yes, it made me happier, I didn't hate so much anymore. Yes it made me look different, but it's who I was meant to be, and Yes I have more confidence, but this is the life I was born to lead. So on my 2nd year anniversary instead of celebrating quietly, worrying about what past friends think, I am celebrating loudly and excitedly. Mum & I made a book on the whole journey and experience as I wanted to keep the reminder of what a major part of my life it was, and will always be so below are the photos from the book I'm sharing today.

So here's to embracing change. Here's to always celebrating who we were and who we become. Here's to living the best way you know how. Here's to knowing who you are and not being afraid of judgement and criticism. And here's to life. We only have one shot at it so why not take it by both hands and be exactly who you were born to be.

xx

p.s you know the best part about it all? I actually finally, after 23 years, look like my sister and my mum, before I looked like some distant relative.

[Just out of surgery & in to ICU]

[Day 4 in hospital, out of ICU and in to my room, incredibly swollen & sore]

[Day 3 - so so so swollen but happy]

[First hand look at the changes as the swelling lessened]

[Before & After shot. I never smiled with my mouth open prior to surgery]