It’s not as gloomy as the headline reads, especially if you focus on my son’s improved mobility and reduced pain since his major spine surgery. What has us all very concerned is his loss of endurance and loss of weight, which is why the image you see to the left shows my just-completed grocery store run for some stuff I never would have considered buying before. But this week’s post-op checkup has us taking drastic actions and the home has never stocked so much junk food! Continue reading
Tag Archives: Scheurmann’s kyphosis
Celebrating his birthday in pain
Today is my son’s 17th birthday. It’s hard to be too joyful right now as he is still painfully recovering from surgery to correct his spine. See that image to the left? That’s him before and after. The “after” was taken six weeks ago, about 72 hours following the operation. We all hoped that by now he’d be back in school. He is, kinda, but not really. Continue reading
The recovery paradox: Movement causes pain; Moving reduces pain
We heard it from the surgeon. We heard it from the recovery-room nurse. We hear it every time we visit the physical therapist. Move! It hurts, but the pain will disappear faster. Think that will convince a 16-year-old boy snuggled cozy in the big leather recliner or his comfy bed? Yeah, not so much. So my role of father once again morphs to coach, trainer and – I have to say it – nag. Continue reading
Home from spine surgery. ‘Wonder-parent’ powers activate
Shape of “Mommy Medic.” Form of “Daddy Doctor.”
Forgive the mangling of the popular power-up phrase from the Wonder Twins, a pair of cartoon characters from the “Super Friends,” but it seemed apt. As did the “Family Guy” image to the left. I think they help me illustrate the big paradigm shift from worrying parent at the hospital to active caregiver here at home. You don’t have to be a super hero to do it, but man it sure feels like it sometimes. Continue reading
Spine surgery is a marathon not a sprint
We’re finally on the other side of major surgery for my son, and the good news from the doctor is he’s doing fine and the procedure went well. The headline of this post is inspired by this image. Mother and son, exhausted after 30 hours at the hospital (and counting). Both look as if they have run a marathon and they have in different ways, but we’re nowhere near the finish line. Continue reading
My son needs surgery not ‘sit-up-straight’ reminders
I can’t guess at the number of times I barked at my son, “Sit up straight!” I did it at least twice every time we sat down for dinner. And every time, he pushed himself up to the back of his chair to gain my approval. Those dinner-time reminders would start to haunt me in the early summer when we learned the reason behind it all. Continue reading
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