{"id":14826,"date":"2020-12-18T15:45:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T15:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infowp.cartridgepeople.com\/?p=14826"},"modified":"2026-02-09T14:25:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T14:25:13","slug":"introducing-louise-laurie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cartridgepeople.com\/info\/blog\/introducing-louise-laurie","title":{"rendered":"Our Cartridge People: Introducing\u2026 Louise Laurie"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Louise Laurie, Marketing Manager at Cartridge People, will be taking part in two huge challenges to help raise awareness and money for the Scoliosis Campaign Fund charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scoliosis Campaign Fund supports people affected by scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Louise was diagnosed with scoliosis at 14 and had major spinal surgery in 2010 to correct two large spinal curvatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To celebrate 10 years since her surgery, Louise will be taking part in the Manchester Marathon<\/a> and a 10-day trek to Machu Picchu in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read her story below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scoliosis and Me: 10 Years On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This year marks 10 years since I had life-changing surgery on my spine to correct severe scoliosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had scoliosis surgery<\/strong> on July 29th 2010. I\u2019m fused T3 to L3, which basically means that pretty much my whole spine is fused apart from 3 discs at the bottom. You can see my x-rays and scar on the photographs below.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Scoliosis<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following my surgery, it took me over a year to fully recover and I had to learn the basics again such as walking and getting out of bed. It was a very painful and long recovery. I couldn’t even sit up or get in the shower by myself for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, I still get pain, my breathing is affected and I have numbness and nerve issues but my quality of life is so much better than before I had the surgery. Going through something like this makes you really appreciate life and I still find it hard to believe all the things I can do now, it’s truly amazing what the human body is capable of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To celebrate 10 years with a titanium spine<\/strong>, I have decided to push myself further than I have before by running an actual marathon in April – Manchester Marathon 2020<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then in October, I plan to take on a\u00a010-day trek to Machu Picchu<\/strong>, which is something I’ve really wanted to do for a while now. I’ll be posting updates on my training over on my\u00a0blog<\/a>, so be sure to follow me and keep updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Trek to Machu Picchu is graded as tough and will involve:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n