Hi everyone!

I got a phone call from Steve this morning, and Kelly's surgery went fine. As of 7:30AM my time, she was in recovery and would be there for a couple of hours. Tomorrow, if all goes well she will be going home tomorrow. I told Steve to tell her that we all send big MOOSE hugs to her!

Cynde, Thanks for the update. Of course we are sending her big gentle hugs:-{)}

Thanks Cynde!
lots of good vibes for Kelly's speedy recovery ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She'll be soooo much Taller now!

This is great news, Cynde! Thanks for posting.

Cynde - WONDERFUL NEWS!!!

Thanks for posting!!!

Thanks Cynde. I got Kelly a little goody bag to keep her busy during her time off work. She can let Steve and Stephanie wait on her for the next couple days. I am so glad that everything went well.

Cynde, thanks - glad all went ok.

Thanks for letting us all know, Cynde. I am so happy to here that all went well. Kelly, big hugs are sent your way!!!

Wow, thanks for posting Cynde, was just checking in for THE NEWS! Glad to hear things went well, looking forward to some pics of her next to Steve to see how much TALLER she really is!

Cynde thanks for the update. I'm very happy it went well, here's to a speedy and complete recovery.

Great news Cynde! I am sneaking in at work, I wanted to know how things went! Speedy recovery Kelly!

I talked to Stephanie a little while ago. She was at the hospital with her mom and said Kelly is doing good. Steph said she is just really tired. If I hear anything else I will let you know and I am sure Cynde will also. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Lisa, I think she is probably really DRUGGED not really tired...LOL! Oh yea, we need to ask steph and Steve if she LOOKS any taller...LOL!

Great news about Kelly!

This is great news! Kelly being quiet?? Can't be!! LOL~!!! She MUST be drugged!

Hope she is home by tomorrow and being pampered like crazy for quite a while to come.

Hugs and kisses to you, Kelly! Carole

I don't come here often enough! Kelly, whatever is going on BIG HUGS to you girl! I'm glad to hear you'll be going home tomorrow. TAKE the pampering. ((((hugs))))

Kelly ~ Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Do only what you feel up to doing and let everyone else do the rest!

Hope you're doing well, and reading this from home! As Dorothy says.... There's no place like home!

Kelly

We hope you recover quickly

I spoke with Stephanie around 2:30 today and Kelly hasn't been released yet. They were going to feed her lunch and make sure she does OK with eating. Steph had a hard time seeing her mom so "out of it" last night. I will keep you updated.....

Lisa, thanks. I was going to call the house this afternoon, then decided to wait until tomorrow. I'm sure it was hard for Steph to see her mom after surgery Makes me want to reach out and give her a hug and tell her that mom will be back up to speed and arguing with her sooner than she thinks! LOL!

Thanks for the update, Lisa. Surgery really takes its toll on folks...poor Kelly and poor Steph...things will be back to normal very soon, tho....just as Cynde has noted! LOL. Carole

Lisa, thanks for the update. I have to admit, I thought that she was being a bit optimistic about getting relased that soon, and they'll let her go home when they think she's strong enough. No need to rush, enjoy the rest! Kelly, you'll be back to normal in no time!

Carole, that's true - and sometimes it's worse for the family: when it's you who's been operated on, you're too drugged to care how you look hooked up to all those tubes and things! I was a wreck when Geoffrey was operated on, and he was a wreck when it was my turn. For myself, laying around in bed all day with people taking care of me and only the occasional PT or doctor interruption, was almost like a vacation (though not like Bonaire! )

Oh great news! Kelly, I sent positive energy vibes while on the Plane to Bonaire on Sat. AM. We definitely though about you. Thanks for the update Cynde! I know how you feel my lovely Kelly! Just remember one day at a time. You will be surprised at how much better you will feel day after day. Hugs!

Liz and Ed

Hi All,

I called Kelly yesterday and talked to her a little bit. As expected, she is in a lot of pain, and not a happy camper. They did put steel plates in her neck, I told her that she was going to set off all the security alarms when she travels, she said she has a card to show people. She had gotten a little nauseaus in the morning, and I said good lord, you didn't throw up did you? She said thank goodness now. Not the thing to have happen when you have had a neck spinal fusion...poor thing. She got the turtle blanket I sent from BT (below) and had it on and thanked everyone :-)

She got the "package" from Freddie and I and I told Steve that he had to make her put all that stuff on and take a picture so we could post it on BT...heck it is a TRADITION to wear silly hats and slippers and glasses when you have had major surgery!

Keep the well wishes coming gang!


from http://www.keepsakes-etc.com/

Kelly & Steph,
Every day should go a little easier. Hang in there. We're rooting for a fast recovery for you.

That is such a cool blanket,Cynde!

Hi, Kelly....how's it hangin' today, kiddo?? Hope they gave you lots of Vicodin or something along those lines...maybe Percocet, at least???

I know each day will be a little better for you. It takes time....just time...and before you know it this will all be a "memory" and the mind is a wonderful thing in that sometimes it "forgets" the horrible things eventually. Hard to seem possible right now but I think it will all disappear before you know it!

Kelly got screwed by her surgeon during surgery???? What????!!! LOL!!! Carole

Now when Kelly has a "few loose screws" we'll know why! LOL!!

Kelly ~ You'll be back to normal soon enough. Use this down time to relax and recoup.

I had a spinal fusion in my neck (between C5 & C6) nine years ago and I wouldn't change a thing. I lived with excruciating neck pain (herniated disc) for 3 1/2 years, all the result of a rear-end collision (car wreck for you dirty minds). Finally, the disc slipped off onto my spinal cord and I was all but paralyzed in my right arm...couldn't even hold an empty styrofoam coffee cup much less open a door. Mind you, I was still working because I didn't know I was on the brink of actually becoming paralyzed. Anyway, on the day my doctor informed me that surgery was finally necessary, (no more PT, yeah!) he ordered me not to return to work, not to drive and to get someone to drive me home from his office. Well, I returned to work, talked with my boss to line up the short-term disability leave from work and drove myself home. I told my doctor that I needed a 2nd opinion and some time to think about it before scheduling surgery. Later, I found out from him that he did all he could NOT to call me at home that night. He was so very worried that I didn't understand the danger I was in. He feared that I would decline to have the surgery. However, after a little research, I found out he was the chief neurosurgeon at Baylor Hospital and had an EXCELLENT reputation. My 2nd & 3rd opinions (unaffiliated w/ Baylor) both told me that his "words" walked on water and that I'd better do what he tells me to! So I scheduled surgery for a few days later and relaxed. Of course, I was scared to death though! Instead of inserting a steel plate between the vertebrae, they took a piece of nickle-sized bone from my hip and used that to fuse the two vertebrae together. After the surgery, my neck didn't hurt so much...it was my darn hip! I couldn't walk! I had to wear a neck brace for four weeks, which is how long it took for my bone to fuse together good enough that I didn't have to continue wearing the neck brace. But I must say, I have lived nearly pain-free in the neck ever since!

So, after writing my "pain-in-the-neck" story...Kelly, I hope you have as much luck as I have with your neck surgery and healing process. Maybe one day we can swap neck surgery stories!

Greta, it's good to hear all the pain Kelly is in will be worth it in the end. She was careful when she selected her doctor and I know he was one of the best around. He is a diver too so I think that may have helped sway her decision. I hope she is up and feeling better soon.

Kelly, I wish you a speedy recovery and hope so much that you'll be pain-free very soon. Sounds like you picked a great surgeon and that's half the battle.
Best wishes and hugs. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Margarita

Kelly, I am looking forward to seeing the pics with the hats, etc! Beautiful blanket Cynde!

Hey Kelly, Now you can use the expression, " I've been screwed!) Warm hugs going out to you and hope you have a speedy recovery!!!

Kelly get well soon we sure miss you on BT.
Andy

Kelly,
Hang in there, girl! Glad you pulled through a-o.k. Now, just rest and let everyone take care of you for a change! You deserve it. Love the blanket! Hope you are homeward bound soon, things are so much more comfy at home! Sending healing vibes your way ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Debbie

Kelly... I seem to find out about things way to late lately! Hope you are feeling better soon.
Lots of hugs and healing vibes from me!

Diana