from my DROID phone

Getting ready to turn in but wanted to try ti post from my phone.
We'll see!

Goodnight

Karens Disc-Neck Surgery

3/5/2010

Dear Northcutt-Nutter families and my dear friends:

Update on Karen and disc surgery...

Karen as most know, had her surgery Wednesday morning. She did well according to Dr. Sean O'Malley her neurosurgeon. He worked on C5,6, & 7 and removed some bone spurs. This (he said) should relieve the pressure on thepinched nerves she had that were giving her so much pain. Removing/replacing bulging or herniated discs is super major surgery.

Karen's room was in the women's section of Brookwood Medical Center and man, did Jeff feel out of place. She had a private room and just off the nurse station and next to the pantry where I helped myself. Finally the code is 8061 to get in the door as they got tired of someone always having to get up to open the door for me...

I kept her (and me) in cokes, hot coffee, milk or any soft snacks she could handle. The care was great, the doctor was too and to have major surgery and come home in <18 hours is something else.

This is my 3rd or 4th time going through disc surgery with family. My mother twice, once through the back of the neck, then years later going through the front of the neck. Back then, it was huge, huge incisions going up the back of the neck. Then again a necklace of an incision going through the front and with a multiple of stitches. But now...

With contrasting MRI's, they have minimal incision, going in on Karen's right side, working through this tiny incision, they do all the work, then back out, closing with glue. Yes, I said glue, she had no, zip, nada stitches. There is almost no bruising and only one on her shoulder and we don't know what that is from.

Now she has some swelling but very little redness, but some puffiness that will be down, I believe in no time. She came in the living room a few minutes ago and she has already removed the bandage. She will be able to take a shower in the morning but only patting the affected area.

I know it sounds like I am minimizing this but believe me I am not. It was serious surgery, major surgery, but one done by a neurosurgeon that really knows what he is doing. With a name like Dr. Sean O'Malley, how could we go wrong. It will take some time for the bones to heal, the soreness in her neck to get where she can rotate her neck without it hurting. But the trauma (it appears) is so far less than in the past.

I remember mother was in the hospital a week and then in bed a week after both her neck surgeries. Karen is up picking up the kitchen, putting away things, helping herself to what she needs and has only call me a time or two. That in itself tells you pretty much what I said earlier in my letter.

God and prayer played such a big role in taking care of her. My church, our family and friends have all sent notes, or calls or emails, telling us, they had Karen in their prayers. It brings tears to my eyes, when so, so many of you and others showed your love in so many ways. We are so fortunate!

Today is only day two and lets give her a few days to see if all I see comes to pass. Keep her in your prayers. Love you all and as Red Skelton always said in closing "And may God Bless...."

Jeff and Karen

Contrary to the news....

March 2, 2010

I apologize to my casual reader for not posing anything before NOW! Contrary to the news that I had died, the news was greatly exaggerated....I promise to start putting up some stories soon.

Karen has some schedule neck surgery tomorrow and I will have some time when she gets back home late Thursday or early Friday....Keep her in your prayers..

Jeff