Embracing your scars
By Laurel (L_B)
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
Canada
October 13, 2017 8:14am CST
Since my open heart surgery I have learned to embrace my scar. The day before my surgery I was looking at myself in the mirror thinking this will be the last day that I will be scar free. It bothered me that I would have a very visible scar down my chest.
When they first removed the bandages and I looked at it for the first time I was overcome with emotion. It was big and ugly and obvious. Whenever I went out anywhere people who stare at it. They would never look me in the eye but immediately look at the scar on my chest. Some people would ask about the surgery and I found talking about it helped. I would rather they ask then just stare at it. I would try to wear shirts that covered it just to avoid the uncomfortable situations.
In the fifteen weeks since my surgery I have grown to embrace my scar. It is my battle scar. It shows what I have survived and what I have overcome. It is a map of my illness and recovery. I no longer try to hide it. I wear what I want and I don't even worry if my scar is visible or not.
Today when I was getting dressed for my day with my daughter I put on a shirt that clearly shows my scar. It wasn't intentional it was just a shirt I hadn't wore in quite sometime. When I looked in the mirror I smile. As I placed my hand over my scar I felt so blessed and so thankful to be here to share this special day with her. It is only a small scar in comparison to what I was given in return. I was given my life back, a second chance and chance to be here to make many more memories.
34 people like this
31 responses
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
17 Oct 17
@marlina I understand where your coming from. I have a huge scar on the back of my neck and its ugly. Scars are signs that we are survivors and by the grace of God made it through some rough stuff. God bless you for all you've been through! Do you know Jesus as your Savior?
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118294)
• Anniston, Alabama
13 Oct 17
AHHH, you have went through another phase of recovery. Its good to see you have made more progress. 
9 people like this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
17 Oct 17
@andriaperry You are so right she has made much progress and is a survivor by the grace of Almighty God!
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (121443)
• United States
13 Oct 17
That is a great attitude to have about it. You are lucky to still be here to go shopping with her today!
I had an open (traditional) gallbladder removal surgery 7 years ago. The scar is almost a foot long diagonally across my abdomen. I was horrified when I first saw it. It has faded so much over the years. I don't even think about it any longer.
8 people like this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
17 Oct 17
@NJChicaa I can't believe you have such a big scar for gallbladder surgery! Why so big? My husband had his out many years ago and it was a small scar. Did you have complications or something?
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Oct 17
Thanks. It is part of you. Mine will fade too as time goes on.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Oct 17
What is a scar compared to being healthy, happy and alive?
7 people like this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
17 Oct 17
@Happy2BeMe
A scar means traces of the past, traces of experiences, traces of how we moved on.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37527)
• Toccoa, Georgia
13 Oct 17
@Lizirazo That is neat you had triplets. I am sure they are a blessing
2 people like this
@Lizirazo (2390)
• United States
13 Oct 17
@LeaPea2417 They are surely a blessing.
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
13 Oct 17
I`m happy that despite those things happened to you, You`re still there fighting to be happy in creating good memories
4 people like this
@shaggin (73884)
• United States
13 Oct 17
How sweet you are able to look at your scar differently now. I have scars on my arms from when I was a teen and had terrible depression and cut myself. They are impossible to hide in the summer. My stomach has a few stretch marks so I never wear shirts that show my belly anymore. I never had scars on my face from acne when I was young but now that I am older I am developing scars.
3 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Oct 17
As we get older our skins scars more easily
1 person likes this
@much2say (57209)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Oct 17
I have a scar from a c-section . . . but I decided I was far from ever becoming a bikini model 
, so I should be ok with it 
. A scar is there, but if we really think about the bigger picture, the scar is not what makes or breaks us. In fact it may have made us stronger!5 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85285)
• Valdosta, Georgia
13 Oct 17
I'm so glad you have embraced your scar that offered you another chance at life! It is incredible and I'm so grateful your here, scar or not.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472500)
• Switzerland
17 Oct 17
@Happy2BeMe I had this scar since I was 7 years old, I got the habit.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Oct 17
I am okay with it. I don't think I would get to removed.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (55786)
•
13 Oct 17
Good that you think that way, it is indeed your survival scar. Three years ago I spilled boiling water on my leg and it left a scar. It is mostly faded now, but because of its shape I accepted it as the tattoo which I would have never gotten normally.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Oct 17
Good way to look at it. That must have been very painful when that happened.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Oct 17
Thanks that was very nicely said. It means a lot.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (162252)
• United States
13 Oct 17
Ah, yes you have gone from grieving into celebrating. We love that you are still here with us.
2 people like this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
14 Oct 17
I have several small scars across my lower abdomen from the two laparoscopic surgeries I had earlier this year. Your post really helps put in perspective that they are not something I should dislike about myself. Mine are small and can be hidden, but I am still learning to get used to them. I don't hate them, I just am not accustomed to them being there.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Oct 17
You will learn to accept them. It takes time to get use to them.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Oct 17
Thank you. Yes sunblock is very important.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67090)
• United States
13 Oct 17
I would think that we'd all feel that way at first. Because its new and different. But I'm glad you're embracing it now
2 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
14 Oct 17
Every scar in our body has its own story. Its a story to tell what we are and what had happened to us. Its our story from our history. Every scar plays a big part of our lives.
2 people like this
