Big Daddy's Fusion

His first surgery was the diskectomy which removed all of two disks in his lower spinal region. The disks separate and cushion the vertebrae. His second surgery was a spinal fusion because his vertebrae did not grow together after the first surgery. The pain and numbness continued and was even worse than before his first surgery. A spinal fusion is necessary when one of your disks herniates and the soft gel inside pushes through the wall of the disk. The disk then places pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that are coming out of the spinal column. Spinal fusion is surgery to join together vertebrae in the spine. Fusing permanently joins two bones together so there is no longer movement between them.

The spinal column above and below the fusion are more likely to be stressed when the spine moves, and have problems later. Also, if you needed more than one kind of back surgery (such as diskectomy and spinal fusion), you may have more of a chance of future problems.

Ah. That’s Big Daddy.

So, the first surgery was in November. The spinal fusion was this past Friday. Someone who had come to visit at the hospital commented that we had really been through a rough year and a half. Yep. We sure have. I then remembered everyone rallying around us saying that if we could just hold on for that one year of surgeries and chemo, we would be good to go. I finished my last chemo the end of September and less than a month later, Big Daddy “annihilated” two disks on October 20th.

The surgeon was so impressed by Big Daddy’s injury on the MRI films that he called in his colleagues to see them. “How is he walking?” Well, when you cross Superman with GI Joe, he walks despite the pain.

I thought it was interesting that the surgeon also said that Big Daddy had not “ruptured” his disks, like some mere, mortal man. No, no. Big Daddy had “annihilated” his disks.

Well, it does make for a better story and when more people than you can count consider you to be a superhero… So yeah, disk “annihilation” works.

So, here we are. Two spinal surgeries behind us and a very long rehab process in front of us. I have a whole lot of stories I would love to share with you but can’t. If there was a spectrum with my willingness to tell everything I know and Big Daddy’s desire for privacy, you would see polar opposites.

Suffice it to say, Big Daddy is recuperating well and we are so thankful for those who helped us through this second surgery. The visits, calls, texts, Facebook messages, emails, food, and of course, prayers helped more than any thank you note could ever express. Our family is surrounded by great people and tremendous blessings.

God is good ALL the time. Every day, every hour, every moment. Cancer didn’t do anything to us but make us stronger and the same can be said of our current situation…if I were allowed to talk about it…lol.