Monday, February 1, 2010

Back-pittage: A few thoughts about neurosurgery

In the process of sifting through all of the stuff still remaining at Gma's crib, Jan unearthed the DVD of my surgery. Don't ask me why, but I watched the entire thing. I had watched a clip of it right after surgery, but I didn't realize that there were several "chapters" to it. There is a classic money shot-- there are a pair of tiny tweezers grasping that motherfucker of a tumor, lifting it from the healthy cord tissue, and getting it the HELL out of there. There's a few shots where I watched my nerves being severed. (Like, "Hey, there goes her fingers!") There's also a wide shot of the entire surgical area on my upper back/neck. Remember the pictures of my scar, with the anchor-like drawing? And, um, I just want to say, with a great sense of assuredness: NO FUCKING WONDER I HAVE HAD SO MUCH PAIN. OhgreatmotherofChrist, it is gruesome. Seriously. I'd estimate it was a 3"x4" like, PIT, in my back! Can we say "ouch"? For the record, the spinal cord is not a place to go digging around with some metal pointy things. No.

I had dinner with Jill, former housemate, earlier tonight. It was probably the only thing that I'd prefer doing over watching the Grammys. She, too, has had a rough year. However, she has one very important advantage in facing challenges: a beautiful little canine daughter, Lucy! I need to write some poetry about that dog because she is a love. She made last January a lot more bearable. (Jill calls it "the laying on of paws". Lucy Gettelfinger, MD.)

I'm looking forward to getting back home tomorrow, and making plans to get to a station in life where I can have a Lucy of my own.

Also: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEN! I love you!

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