Dad's Surgery

Dad had back surgery last Tuesday (9/22) at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Why Alamogordo (or maybe where is Alamogordo) you ask? The first & foremost is because of Dr Frank Bryant - Dad has had several recommendations on the work of Dr. Bryant and decided to let him perform the surgery.

I don't know exactly what went down but in Dad's layman's terms: Dr. Bryant replaced two disks in his back and removed several bone spurs on his spine that were affecting nerves and causing the severe pain and weakness that Dad has been experiencing the past few months. I have since learned (via an RN in the OR) that you don't 'replace' the disks but sort of shore them up. Anywhoo... it was a pretty major ordeal, Dad has 4 3-4" incisions on his back & side and severe weakness in his right leg that should dissipate with time.

He & Mom are staying in Alamogordo for at least two weeks, maybe longer, as he recuperates. I am voting for longer as I know if he heads home now he will jump right in to helping people and doing stuff he has no business doing for 3-4 more months at least. That's just the kind of guy he is and people know he won't say no. I get a bit frustrated at times, feeling like he gets taken advantage of but until he learns to say NO, not much I can do about it. So, I hope he stays an extra week or two in Alamogordo.

He has done a remarkable job so far in recovery but the past two days has been rough. Mom said he hasn't felt very good today (nausea) and in a lot of pain since the morphine that was injected in his spine has worn off. But he is up and moving which is a big step.

I thank everyone for their thoughts & prayers during his surgery and now his recovery. I thank Dr Bryant for his steady hands and great skill as he performed the operation and I thank all the staff, nurses and aides that assisted Dad through his first few days of recovery.