Hi all thought i would post my story and how i have been handling things so far. Well
here goes. My name is Donna as most of you all know I am 36 years old, I have two
wonderful children a hubby that has been great, one dog and two cats. I met my husband 11
years ago we have had our ups and downs in life and we always got through it better and
stronger than before. Life was going pretty good until Sept. of 97,when all hell broke
lose in our lives. I had just changed jobs when i fell at work with a case of large
apples.(good ones i might add). Supervisor at work did not make me go to doctor and at the
time i was not in much pain. Well that was my first mistake!!! i handled the pain on my
own until January (stupid huh!!). Finally my super made me go see doc. That is when after
a series of MRI, x-rays, and mobility tests did i find out that my worst days were to
come. The MRI showed i had two disc that were totally gone at the L-4 to the S-1 level.
They could not believe i was even still walking (with a limp because the pain in leg was
so intense). From that day on my life has been in turmoil.
I was very active in sports for myself and also with my two very busy children. My family
and i every weekend went for hikes in the mountains here spent a lot of time outdoors
together as a family. When i was told that would all end till recovery after surgery
was devastated. The doc told me never again will i play softball or basketball which was
my time for me, he just took it all away.
Well may came around i had my surgery with hopes that by the summer i would at least be
able to get around. That didn't happen. Just found out that i am not fusing from surgery
and that i will have to have another surgery. I now use a cane to walk i am not pleased at
all. I understand docs aren't miracle workers but i was never informed of
this.
I now cry almost every night after family is in bed sleeping. I wonder if my life will
ever get back to normal. Then I discovered this wonderful wonderful spinal info room. I
have to say i believe it has saved my life, cause I was on the verge of giving my life up
totally, because of the pain and loneliness I have felt in the past year. So pleas anyone
who reads this just don't give up you have many wonderful and caring friends in this room
who can help you get through this. WITH ALL MY LOVE TO MY MANY NEW WONDERFUL FRIENDS GOD
BLESS ALL OF YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE!!!!!!! Donna
Part 2:
Well here it is November 13th 1999 and i have had the second half of my surgery. It was
done on October 6th 1999 i was in hospital for 7 days . When i came home i have never felt
so good in my life. Then my but started to swell on one side i just assumed it was
inflammation from the surgery, not a second thought after all i had home nurses coming in
everyday to change the dressing. Then the big day came when it was time to get out all
those nasty staples. I arrived at the hospital and the nurse took them out but said the
lower half of my incision looked quite red, so she called the doc and he immediately
started me on two oral antibiotics. Then on the ninth day of taking the oral meds I
started running a fever. OH! no! I thought so the home nurse called the docs office and he
said come right down so i can see you and i did and never got back home till seven days
later!!!!! I had a very bad infection it not only was in the skin around the incision but
it had traveled down to the vertebra and the bone graft and all the wonderful hardware I
had installed in my back. Well i am sorry to say the doc said this was very serious and
now i am on home antibiotics via a catheter installed in my arm. If anyone cares to know
the name of it it is called a GROSONG PICC CATHETER which runs up my arm into a major
blood vessel. So my story continues in about 8 weeks i will know if the infection is
cleared up and then maybe i can add part three to my story which will be much happier than
part one and part two. I have heard all stories have happy endings lets just hope this one
will be too!!!!! TO BE CONTINUED IN THE YEAR 2000!!! HAPPY MILLENNIUM!!!!TO ALL
Donna has been kind enough to offer anyone interested to e-mail her..
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