Miraculous Things Do Happen

A friend suggested that I compose an update as a follow-up to the “grim” news in my Thanksgiving eve email.  Yes, it was grim I suppose and yes I owe everybody an update and this is a good time since I just saw my neurosurgeon Wednesday.

I really don’t believe in miracles anymore but hey, one just happened to me.  Three weeks out from my accident, I am up and about and pretty much pain free except for a low grade headache that sometimes flares up to be down-right annoying.  I do have to wear 24/7 a god-awful neck brace for the next six weeks at a minimum.  I can take it off briefly to shower and can loosen it to eat as long as my head is supported.  After January 20^th, hopefully, I will be able to take it off and drive, eat & drink normally, and sing, maybe all at the same time.

Dr. J. Alex Thomas, a Georgetown trained Board Certified Neurosurgeon, did my surgery that lasted about three hours.  Since my C1 vertebra was shattered and useless to hold up my head, he had to install a device called an Occipital Cervical Fusion System.  Mine is a rectangular titanium plate that is screwed into the base of my scull with rods that extend down and screwed to my C2 and C3 vertebrae.  I am attaching a photo I found on the internet that shows this very well.  The critical thing is to make sure my head and neck stay still enough not to jeopardize the integrity of the screws until the bone heals around and over the fusion system.  My doc told me that if the screws fail while I am healing, I will be in deep, deep doodoo or “DDDD”.

My prognosis is excellent.  It takes about four months for the bone to fully heal around the fusion system.  After that I can start to resume all my normal activities; golfing, biking, skiing, etc.  I will have to get used to a permanent limited range of motion of my neck and head.  My turning will emanate from my C4 vertebrae and below.  This should aid my golf game with the fusion device helping to keep my head still.

I have been humbled by the outpouring of concern and support.  I have received untold number of cards, calls, and emails that I realize now I truly needed for my physical and mental healing.  Life gives us so many wonderful things and also many not so wonderful things.  To make it we have to learn to embrace all of it and stay focused on the positives.  This I will do.  Thanks to each and every one you for rooting me on. 

I wish the season’s peace and goodwill to all.

Gratefully yours,  Fred