Fifa's Surgery 11/10/14 with Dr. Buchowski

[hdsluckygirl13]

On your mark, ready, set .....GO! You'll do well! You're surrounded by prayer!

Love what Peggy said, and I don't think that I can say it any better. See you on the other side... Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[PeggyS]

On your mark, ready, set .....GO! You'll do well! You're surrounded by prayer!

[PeggyS]

Fifa,
I'm so sorry about your dad. I tried to post a reply last evening, but it seems to be lost. In it, I encouraged you to give your worries about your dad to God. I saw that you've already done that and felt peace - amazing isn't it!
Now, remember God loves you and no matter the outcome, HE will see you through it. You are going to be a champ and come through the surgery just fine. You may not believe that, at first.
You are a strong, brave woman. You've done lots of research and you've reached out to others for encouragement & information. You've been so encouraging to me!
You're ready!
Praying that Jesus has His arms wrapped around you and your dad for comfort & healing.
Sincerely, Peg

[titaniumed]

Fifa, I am so sorry about about your dad....

Your right about never having a good time or right time to have surgery....trust that everything goes ok and it will happen.

Deep breaths for now....post when you can

Ed

[jackieg412]

Prayers and best wishes for your whole family.

[tae_tap]

Oh Fifa! This is horrible news! I will add your parents to my prayer list. I find strength in your decision to continue on as planned. That is the right decision because you would be of no help in pain. Right now you have to put you first which I'm sure is easier said than done.

We will be watching and waiting for updates. Sending positive thoughts and soft hugs.
Tamena

[Karen5]

Oh no, I'm so very sorry to hear you have that much more on your plate right now! I'll be thinking of you, especially as we head to the hospital Monday, too. I hope your surgery and recovery go well!!

[hdsluckygirl13]

Big hugs and prayers...

Fifa,
I am so sorry that you are having all of this happen just days before your surgery. I am proud of you for knowing in your heart what you need to do, despite the fear and other feelings you most certainly are having. I hear so much of what I am feeling in what you are saying, it gives me goosebumps! Just take a very deep breath, and know that it is all in God's hands, and everything happens for a reason. Thanks for updating us, please take care of yourself.

[Susie*Bee]

Oh Fifa, I am so sorry for this terrible accident. Of course I'll pray for your father and mother and the whole situation. You are in my prayers. May He bring you peace and strength as you head into your own surgery, as well as your father's. I'm so glad you have a good support group to help your parents and drive your mother. Many, many hugs.

[fifa]

Trying To Make Lemonade

Hi, everyone -

Had a real bad day yesterday and was too tired to post last night. Surgery is in two days (Monday 11/10/14).

I was getting ready for work yesterday morning about 8:30 a.m. when the phone rang. My mom called - my dad blacked out, fell, and was headed to Columbia in an ambulance. She said he couldn't move his arms or legs. I got to the hospital here about 9:00 a.m. and met the ambulance. Didn't get home until nearly 11:00 p.m. last night. It was a long, terrible day. Yesterday was supposed to have been my last day at work - I was to finish training my replacement yesterday, so of course, that didn't get done. (sad smiley)

My dad hit his head when he fell, and his spinal cord is compressed from C2 through C6. He is 81 years old, so they currently doing tests to see if he is strong enough to have surgery. The neurosurgeon thinks that dad will need laminectomies from C4-C6 with fusion of C3-4, C4-5, and C5-6 with rods and screws. He has a LOT of stenosis, so the canal was already narrowed way down. The whiplash from hitting his head contused the cord and made it swell. Currently, he has little feeling in his legs (but can move them), and can't feel his fingertips (can move his arms and has a fairly good grip). Any time he moves, coughs, etc., he gets "electric shocks" down the arms and legs....can anyone relate??? I can!! Dad got a huge dose of IV steroids, so the swelling is down some, but he will still need surgery.

So, my mom doesn't drive and they live an hour away from here. I'm heading to St. Louis tomorrow for surgery on Monday. They will probably do dad's surgery mid next week.

Typically, my mom would stay here with us and we could support her and my dad through his hospital stay. I'm grateful we have good friends and relatives, so they will be able to transport my mom back and forth from their home to Columbia since we cannot. We decided as a family last night that I would go ahead with my own surgery plans...my first thought was to postpone this. However, I know in my heart there is NEVER going to be a good time for me to do this. There will always be work to do, always be impending doom with a family, etc.

This is just such a terrible, helpless feeling, and my controlling self wasn't prepared for this snafu. I've given everything over to God this morning and am at peace. Wish we could get my dad in an ambulance and have Dr. Buchowski fix him up, too.

Heading over to the hospital, then to work...I really just wanted to hang with hubby and puppy today and just be together.

Any and all prayers appreciated! Will post back as I am able.

Fifa

[fifa]

Fifa,
My husband and I discovered that you need to log onto the wifi network there for phones to work. Now down where they do the myelogram's they do have a blocker for some reason and in a few other selected areas, but the rooms have good signal.

I hated reading your experience with your pre-op visit. I assure you, they have top notch surgical teams and compassionate nursing staff.

Praying for you!
Tamena

Hi, Tamena -

I sent you a DM. Glad to know the wifi works well there - we are depending upon it!
Fifa

[fifa]

When you have your surgery, I'll be 2 weeks post-op. I've been think inking about you and everything I want to share. I just caught up with reading your posts and I'll try to remember helpful things! I'm going to post those on my thread.

Sending blessings & gratitude your way. It sounds like you've got that resource covered!
Peggy

Thanks, Peggy! You're posts are very helpful! See my update below. See you soon!
Fifa

[fifa]

Take some jello cubes to dinner with you & 'pretend' they're shots!

Hi, Peggy!

I laughed out loud at this!!! My best girlfriend and I are headed to The Lou tomorrow. I told her, "Chardonnay is a clear liquid, right????" hahaha

Take care - hope to see you soon!
Fifa

[fifa]

Fifa,
I have been trying to read through and catch up on your journey to begin on the other side, and just am inspired by your strength (as well as everyone's on here). I feel so similar to you especially because I am struggling with when to have this surgery. So to know that you struggled and finally are days away from having it and being able to read your thoughts/questions leading up to that has helped relieve some of my anxiousness. I pray daily and will add you to my list. Big hugs,

Thanks, Crystal! Your own journey has started, but will speed up significantly once you set a date. When I first saw Dr. Buchowski two years ago, I was overwhelmed by the enormity of what needed to happen. I did a LOT of research, which is how I found this forum. The forum has been a godsend to me. It helped me greatly to understand that all of my symptoms are pretty common for scoliosis sufferers. I felt very alone, but the group here seems like family somehow. The advice, the wisdom, and the humor has been invaluable to me.

This surgery and the aftermath seemed to me to be "taking away" more than it was going to give me. This is hard to explain, but all I could think about was what I would never be able to do again, so I tried to put this off as long as possible. My surgeon was in no rush, so I was hopeful I could delay for some years. I had an episode in August where I heard a pop and couldn't walk, and all of a sudden it occurred to me that I might actually do irreparable damage to my spine if I waited any longer. Again, this is hard to explain, but what I'm trying to say is that for the last two years, I thought surgery would be something I would "choose" to do at some point. Well, I "chose" to do it ASAP since the episode. LOL Hope that makes sense.

Knowing that so many people here have been through this has helped me a great deal. There is life on the other side. The things I thought I would lose pale in comparison to possibly being in a wheelchair soon. The choice, in essence, was taken away, or at least got a whole lot more clear. I'm tired of suffering, tired of being limited, tired of being "disabled." I'm ready for life on the other side, and I know now I can do it. I've seen Ed ski on video....Tamena is tap dancing, and Golf Nut is golfing! LOL There is hope for all of us on the other side.

No one can make your decision for you, so hang in there. You are on your way.

I'll be out of commission soon for awhile - surgery is in two days. I'll post soon and hopefully can help you the way others here have helped me. Listen to everyone here and take from it what you need. And do take care of yourself!

Fifa

[tae_tap]

Take some jello cubes to dinner with you & 'pretend' they're shots!

Love this!