Tag: back surgery

The Word Is Yes

There will still be some twinges and pain from time-to-time. I’m limited in what I can lift and how much stress my body should take. I’m good with that.

As Helaine pointed out, the difference in me today and two weeks ago is amazing.

I’m back from the neurosurgeon’s office. The healing is progressing well. I have been cleared to drive and return to work!

There will still be some twinges and pain from time-to-time. I’m limited in what I can lift and how much stress my body should take. I’m good with that.

As Helaine pointed out, the difference in me today and two weeks ago is amazing. When pain is in control it changes nearly every aspect of your life! Even when I wasn’t actually hurting I avoided making moves that might bring the pain back.

After the examination I followed the doctor to his office where he explained exactly what he’d done. The photos I posted a few weeks ago told the story. It is intricate work in a limited space.

It is astounding what can be done to patch us up. We live in an era of miracles.

The plan is to walk and bike myself into shape. It will take time. There’s a lot to undo. I’ve hardly put my feet on the ground for the last two months.

Meanwhile, I’ll see you Monday on the TV.

My Friend Kevin’s Battle

I have mentioned Kevin before. We’ve been friends for 15 years or so.

Kevin is the nicest person I know. Believe me, this takes nothing away from anyone else. He’s just that nice.

A few weeks ago Kevin called to tell me he was in the hospital. He’d recently undergone back surgery and didn’t sound too distressed. I popped by the next afternoon.

Kevin related the story of having some pain and nausea, seeing the doctor and being told to go to the hospital then – I’m mean then.

It was a blood clot in his pancreas. I’m smart enough to know blood clots can be disastrous. Precaution is good.

When I got back to work, I started researching blood clots in the pancreas. It’s not something I’d heard of before. Then I saw, it’s often a marker of pancreatic cancer.

But Kevin was in none of the ‘favored’ groups. He was a non-smoker, non-diabetic, caucasian with no family history. It made no difference.

The tests came back the next day. Kevin had pancreatic cancer and in a pretty advanced stage. It had begun to spread to nearby organs.

I know all that, because we’ve talked about it. But if you just spoke to Kevin, you’d have no idea. He’s up, positive, sunny. He’s his regular self.

Still, he knows what’s going on better than anyone else could. Pancreatic cancer is terrible. It’s fast and usually fatal.

He’s begun chemo, hopefully to extend his life. Who knows? Nothing’s certain. Dr. Mel Goldstein, who I work with at the TV station, pulled lots of strings to get Kevin hooked with the right people. If there’s a chance for help, he’s properly situated to get it.

It’s tough not to remember Dr. Mel was told he had incurable, fatal cancer ten years ago. He ‘should’ have been dead years ago. That’s why you can’t give up.

Kevin knows his family and friends want to know what’s going on. Some of them are sheepish about asking. That’s human nature. So, he’s started a blog.

Kevin has begun putting entries on CureKevin.com. The blog is still in its early stages, but he’ll catch on quickly and start foaming at the mouth, as I often do.

We’re throwing a party when he gets to the 1,000th entry.