Vicky — Spleen

“Vicky,” the doctor said gently, “you’re going to miss your spleen .” They took it out. Poof . One laparoscopic surgery later, Vicky was officially asplenic (fancy word for “no spleen”).

Vicky’s Spleen: A Tiny Organ’s Big (and Dramatic) Story Subtitle: What happens when a small, spongy organ decides to steal the spotlight. If you know Vicky, you know she’s all energy. She’s the friend who runs marathons for fun, eats kale without grimacing, and somehow still has the emotional range of a poet. So, when Vicky got sidelined by something called a spleen , we were all confused. vicky spleen

It started with a dull ache during a pickup soccer game. Vicky, being Vicky, ignored it. Two days later, she was pale, dizzy, and complaining that her left shoulder hurt—which is weird, because she hadn’t injured her shoulder. That shoulder pain? It’s called Kehr’s sign . When a spleen is bleeding or swollen, it irritates the diaphragm, and your brain gets confused. It thinks the pain is coming from the shoulder. “Vicky,” the doctor said gently, “you’re going to

Medical magic.

So here’s to the unsung heroes of the body. And here’s to Vicky—still vibrant, still fast, and now a little wiser about the small, spongy organ on her left side. Vicky’s Spleen: A Tiny Organ’s Big (and Dramatic)

Have you or someone you know had a surprise organ removal? Tell me in the comments. Vicky is ready to compare scar stories.