ie, I'm counting down the days, leaving for New York on 27th for surgery

September 10, 2008

Hi guys:

I'm counting down the days, watching the clock trying to think if I

have forgotten anything or anyone. Since my last surgery that was

supposed to have been in July was canceled, I have forgotten were

going to be my mentors, if anyone can remember please help me out :-

). I remember that name Sharon and many others, but with all the

medications they had me on it all became a blur. But now I am much

better, feeling good, feeling healthy and I want to win this battle!

I have so many questions that I still want to ask Dr. Boachie, but

every time I start thinking about them my mind draws a blank, when I

start to write them down my mind draws a blank. Then I think about

the general anesthesia and again more questions. I'm quite sure I'll

probably have to have a tracheotomy again, but I do hope that now

after all these years they have made some improvements. Mainly I

just do not want to remember some of the horrible memories that I

still have from past experiences. But then again I came to those, I

held on and I am still here today. This will be the biggest, and

probably the last opportunity I will have to get this thing under

control. I keep saying to myself " self, it's just an orthopedic

surgery not a heart transplant. " And as far as the Halo traction,

this will be the third time in my life, so I prayerfully hope I can

handle it again.

But anyone out there that can tell me " things have improved in the

past 30 years " I sure would like to hear it. I watch all of the

television programs about all the miraculous things that are

happening in the world of medicine today. But then I turn the

channel and see some phony actor wearing a " white coat " which is

supposed to make him a Dr. trying too sell some phony miraculous

cream for arthritis or some crap like that. So I'm not much into

the " white coat " scene, to me that is just all a part of a uniform

and nothing more.

Fortunately I found a Sheraton hotel only 2 miles from the hospital

and with a friends help works in a Sheraton in New Orleans I was able

to get a good rate for my caregivers. And since I am supposed to be

in the hospital for two months or more if there are complications,

believe me I needed a good rate. I'm just trying to hold onto my

present home so I would have a place to come back to and hopefully

recover.

If anyone else can chime in out there with some " positive feedback " I

sure would love to hear from you. Not only am I scared to death for

myself but also my son who is only 18 years old, and of course Wanda

my caregiver who is 69 years old and is actually an angel that saved

my life on more than one occasion. I have to survive this, and make

it work for all those concerned. I need to get back to work so I can

make the money, pay the bills and make a difference with my life.

Does anyone really think it's possible to go to sleep and wake up

with a straighter spine??? I saw some of the many WONDERFUL before

and after x-rays and photographs on Dr. Lenkes website, many of them

much older than myself. And I pray a little prayer, God just give me

a chance, I have a few more songs in my heart that I want to sing.

So please wish me luck and be sure to check out my website at my

updates from time to time as we will try to keep you informed as how

things are going. And for all of you who are getting ready to go

through your own personal journey, please know you are in my

thoughts, my prayers and if we ever meet I would love to sing you a

song.

Also, I know I've been told this before, but I forgot, if there is a

list of pertinent questions to a case as severe as mine anyone has

already written, please just let me know, I would love you forever

and ever!

Sincerely, ie www.ieBush.com

September 10, 2008

ie,

I know you must feel very fearful as you get closer to this new

surgery date...but I do hope you can come to a peaceful place about it

before your traction.

There is a list of questions that I created for myself while I was

making the decision to have surgery (and with who). I put it up in the

" Files " section so you might want to open that document and use it as

a memory jogger for creating some of your own questions. Your surgery

will be far more complex than mine, and no doubt questions pertaining

to your post op period will be very different.

I would start by asking yourself, " What do I need to know that would

change my mind about going forward? " I would put that first because I

think you are much further down the road toward surgery than where I

was when I developed my questions. In your case you will already be in

NYC with everything in place to go ahead....so what is it that is

keeping you up at night? Perhaps something like these:

" DrBoachie, In plain language please explain specifically why or how

you think I will benefit from this surgery " . Can you outline your

spcific goals? "

" BrBoachie, If we are not successful in achieving your best hopes for

me, can you say with a degree of confidence that I will at least be no

worse off than today after my healing is complete? "

" DrBoachie, Can you help me put aside my fears about intubation? I

believe I told you about my frightening earlier experiences, and I

would like to have a plan in place now so that I can no that we

understand one another. "

Just write down your fears as they come to you...then frame the questions.

If I think of more I will put them up....I am sure others will as well.

Wonderful news that you found a suitable place for your caregivers. I

also thought of the website www.vrbo.com which has short to long term

rentals pretty much everywhere in the world. We have used it in

Vermont and also over in Berlin very successfully. It is a listing for

the homeowners, who you deal with directly. Anyway.....now you are set

with a plan so no need to go down that road!

Take Care, Cam

September 10, 2008

ie,

Your right one of your mentors is Sharon and the other is .

Please make sure they have contact information for you before you

head to NY. I know you will be fine. Your in great hands. C

>

> Hi guys:

>

> I'm counting down the days, watching the clock trying to think if I

> have forgotten anything or anyone. Since my last surgery that was

> supposed to have been in July was canceled, I have forgotten were

> going to be my mentors, if anyone can remember please help me out :-

> ). I remember that name Sharon and many others, but with all the

> medications they had me on it all became a blur. But now I am much

> better, feeling good, feeling healthy and I want to win this battle!

>

> I have so many questions that I still want to ask Dr. Boachie, but

> every time I start thinking about them my mind draws a blank, when

I

> start to write them down my mind draws a blank. Then I think about

> the general anesthesia and again more questions. I'm quite sure

I'll

> probably have to have a tracheotomy again, but I do hope that now

> after all these years they have made some improvements. Mainly I

> just do not want to remember some of the horrible memories that I

> still have from past experiences. But then again I came to those,

I

> held on and I am still here today. This will be the biggest, and

> probably the last opportunity I will have to get this thing under

> control. I keep saying to myself " self, it's just an orthopedic

> surgery not a heart transplant. " And as far as the Halo traction,

> this will be the third time in my life, so I prayerfully hope I can

> handle it again.

>

> But anyone out there that can tell me " things have improved in the

> past 30 years " I sure would like to hear it. I watch all of the

> television programs about all the miraculous things that are

> happening in the world of medicine today. But then I turn the

> channel and see some phony actor wearing a " white coat " which is

> supposed to make him a Dr. trying too sell some phony miraculous

> cream for arthritis or some crap like that. So I'm not much into

> the " white coat " scene, to me that is just all a part of a uniform

> and nothing more.

>

> Fortunately I found a Sheraton hotel only 2 miles from the hospital

> and with a friends help works in a Sheraton in New Orleans I was

able

> to get a good rate for my caregivers. And since I am supposed to

be

> in the hospital for two months or more if there are complications,

> believe me I needed a good rate. I'm just trying to hold onto my

> present home so I would have a place to come back to and hopefully

> recover.

>

> If anyone else can chime in out there with some " positive feedback "

I

> sure would love to hear from you. Not only am I scared to death

for

> myself but also my son who is only 18 years old, and of course

Wanda

> my caregiver who is 69 years old and is actually an angel that

saved

> my life on more than one occasion. I have to survive this, and

make

> it work for all those concerned. I need to get back to work so I

can

> make the money, pay the bills and make a difference with my life.

>

> Does anyone really think it's possible to go to sleep and wake up

> with a straighter spine??? I saw some of the many WONDERFUL before

> and after x-rays and photographs on Dr. Lenkes website, many of

them

> much older than myself. And I pray a little prayer, God just give

me

> a chance, I have a few more songs in my heart that I want to sing.

> So please wish me luck and be sure to check out my website at my

> updates from time to time as we will try to keep you informed as

how

> things are going. And for all of you who are getting ready to go

> through your own personal journey, please know you are in my

> thoughts, my prayers and if we ever meet I would love to sing you a

> song.

>

> Also, I know I've been told this before, but I forgot, if there is

a

> list of pertinent questions to a case as severe as mine anyone has

> already written, please just let me know, I would love you forever

> and ever!

>

> Sincerely, ie www.ieBush.com

>

September 11, 2008

ie,

Good luck with everything. My thoughts are with you!

I'm sure that others have a lot of excellent advice for you. While I

don't as severe of a condition as yours, I do have another medical

condition in addition to flatback. My suggestion would be to make

sure that any specialists you have are in good communication with Dr

Boachie - like if you see a pulmonary doc or anyone else for some of

the medical issues you have. It makes things easier. So for

example, my multiple sclerosis doc & my spinal surgeon communicated

before my surgery and I had contigency plans in place if my MS

flared, etc. My MS doc gave suggestions like being over agressive to

treat fevers (since they flare my symptoms), and it made my hospital

stay more comfortable physically (to have things taken care of) and

mentally (to know that all docs were aware of possible problems and

prepared to tackle them).

I wish you the best as you head into this huge surgery. Are there

plans for you to be in a rehab facility either in NY or back at home

after your surgery? I stayed in a great Rehab facility in Chicago

after my surgery for 4 weeks, and it helped me regain some

functionality, be independent, and adapt better to being in my

wheelchair fulltime.

And will your caregivers have any internet access to give us

updates? Otherwise please have someone lined up to give us updates

on how you're doing. Also - do your caregivers have rights to hear

your medical updates? All of these HIPAA laws are great for privacy,

but can also be a real pain sometimes for loved ones to get basic

info.