I didn’t write anything for the day after the first (anterior) surgery. I just remember alot of pain when the medications wore off. I was on a clear liquid diet so I could only have broth, juice and jello. They had Ensure Clear which was quite delicious. It’s a clear beverage that’s flavored and it has 8 grams of protein in it. A nice change from plain water. I highly recommend this if it is available. Refreshing and has a good amount of protein so you’re getting some nutrition too.

On Jan 2 2025, I had the BIG surgery. T3-pelvis fusion. The evening before, I was told I was #2 on the surgery schedule but they didn’t know what time I’d be taken to pre op. My daughter, Sarah, didn’t spend the night and was planning to come in the morning to be with me before surgery.

Well, I was unexpectedly woken up at 6am and they said we’re taking you to pre op. The #1 surgery was cancelled due to the patient eating past midnight. I was confused what was happening and then terrified because Sarah wasn’t there with me. I didn’t want to go into this surgery without seeing her. I frantically was calling her and my boyfriend, Brian, as they were wheeling me down to pre op. I absolutely needed one of them with me. Brian answered right away and he was on his way to the hospital when Sarah answered and said she’d leave right away. I told my Brian she was on her way and he turned around to go home. He knew I really wanted Sarah with me. My daughter made it to me about 10 minutes later. The pre op nurses kept saying they were taking me back any minute but they delayed until my daughter came.

Sarah did make it to me in time. We had about 10 minutes together before they took me to surgery. She and I just cried the whole time. Not sad tears, but happy tears. She knew what this surgery meant to me and how my spine condition has slowly taken my life away. So we had our moments together, had one last hug and said I love you. And then I got the sleepy medicine and that was it.

The rest of the day was the surgery and I woke up in ICU. I do know I woke up at some point in excruciating pain and was violently shaking from pain. Brian and Sarah were asking what they needed to do to help me. I was shaking and trying to move around to get comfortable. I was giving out orders as much as I could and they took care of me perfectly. After that was just a blur of pain medication and sleep.