NEW ALBANY — Jamie Bell knew she had to make a decision. She was tired of the constant pain and having to take six or more Advil a day just to cope with the daily agony of being active. Her spine, which was in the shape of an “S,” was not getting any better.

So she told her parents it was time for surgery.

But this was no ordinary, out-patient deal. It took orthopedic surgeons four hours to put two titanium rods, along with 12 hooks and screws, in Bell’s back.

For six months she was limited in doing any kind of physical activity. Not an easy thing to do for a high school sophomore whose first love was playing volleyball.

“We talked about it in March (2009) and decided to get it done. I would rather get it done my sophomore year and still have two years to play,” she remembers.

So Bell, who is a senior on this season’s New Albany volleyball squad, was forced to sit out the entire volleyball season her sophomore year. But instead of feeling sorry for herself or staying away from the game she loves, she helped keep stats during New Albany games and attended as many team events as possible. She constantly kept her eye on the prize which was to get back out on the floor.

“She sat out the whole year, but she supported the team any way she could. That says a lot about her work ethic and character,” said New Albany volleyball coach John Breeding.

“Being out my sophomore year and being around it made me realize how much I loved the sport,” she said. “There was no way I was going to give up.”

Bell was diagnosed with scoliosis in seventh grade. That is when she was fitted with a plastic back brace which she wore under her clothing. It was suppose to keep her back from getting worse, but her condition steadily deteriorated.

“It didn’t really do the job,” she said. “Trying to hide it was just awful. Everyone at school would joke about it. They would say I had washboard abs. They would help me joke about it so that helped.”

Bell was able to keep her arms and legs in shape following surgery. Finally, she was cleared to play on Oct. 22, 2009. But she wanted to ease back into it slowly, so her plan was to sit out the club season and be ready for the start of high school practice in early August of her junior year.

However, she got back on the floor in April 2010 when a Union Volleyball Club team called and asked her to join the squad.

“It was kind of rough the first few weeks,” Bell said of regaining her skills. “The main thing was diving on the floor for the first time. It was scary ... but I knew I just had to do it. Anything I could do before I can do now. I don’t have any problems. Whenever I am playing, and I do something wrong, I don’t use my back as an excuse. I won’t do that.”

Breeding said he was worried about Bell diving on the floor following surgery. However, he said she never complained.

“From day one, she always had a smile on her face and gave a great effort,” he said. “She said she felt good after the surgery and that it was not a problem. She has always given a 110 percent effort.”

Bell said after being sidelined for an entire year, she was a little nervous the first day of high school practice her junior year. But she said her teammates “were great” and greeted her with open arms.

“The girls were so supportive. They knew what I went through,” she said. “I know I made the right decision to have the surgery when I did. Being out there again brought back so many memories.”

Bell hopes to continue her career in college. She said she has made an official visit to Georgetown (Ky.) College and was impressed with the program. She said she wants to be a physical therapist and hopes her story will help those she comes in contact with.

“It’s one heck of a story,” she said with a laugh. “I want to be a physical therapist so that is one thing I will have in common (with patients). I can tell them I was able to play two years of volleyball, non-stop, after back surgery. I hope my story will inspire them.”