I wrote a book while healing from a broken back by Trudy Vains

At the end of 2019, I needed URGENT Spine Fusion, I was not allowed to move from my bed. Like most people during 2020, things have been haywire, my life changed immensely, but for different reasons.

I wanted to connect with others who had been through this before me. There was not a single positive story to be found.

So, I took matters into my own hands – I wrote my book, aptly named FUSED, and I completed it in just three months.

I had all the time in the world – from my bed. I needed to write this book, for myself and for others.

My story is a personal journey, 6 car accidents and a multitude of other things that increased the need to have this urgent surgery. But it also covers, the loss of a child, suicidal thoughts, alcoholism and how I turned my life around.

My life before surgery was one of a very busy woman and a full-time yoga teacher and birth doula. I wanted to share the knowledge that developed for me during this time on what helped and what didn’t during recovery.

Don’t get me wrong here, it was a long, hard, tough road. Not just physically, my emotions were very high, every day was different, and I did not know what to expect.

Mentally I struggled because I could not do what I had loved for so long-teaching yoga. In the early days of recovery all I wanted to do was teach but I couldn’t, and I had to learn to be at peace with that and turn my focus elsewhere.

I had to leave my body and its healing in the hands of others, with my surgeons’ advice and physiotherapist as well.

Yoga has always been my go-to, now it’s different, I can’t move my lower back, so I adapt and use the range of movement that I have. This was the foundation to create the ‘Yoga For Back Pain’ online series, one class conducted in three different ways, laying on the floor, sitting on a chair, or standing.

I have heard from people that have read my story and they appreciate the raw and honest words, the courage, and they feel like they have literally been taken on a journey of lows, highs and the in between. Who knew that one person’s book would relate on so many levels for others?

My goal is to help anyone facing any adversity in their life. You can overcome anything, it’s all about perception and mindset, you can never guarantee the outcome of the life event but you can guarantee where your thoughts go.

By sharing my story, I am sharing my personal journey and knowledge on how to live a normal life before, during and after spine fusion.