The Phenomenon of Spring

It happened again~! One day after the snow is finally gone and you are "waiting" for those special signs of Spring, there it is - right in front of your eyes. The Forsythia has bloomed~! I was taking my trash out yesterday and suddenly I noticed that the bushes beside the trash bin were in full bloom.

This is how the event used to be every year: I would see the bushes in bloom. I'd drive over to my mom and dad's house, who's yard included a large Forsythia bush. I'd go into the house and say, "Mom, they've bloomed. The Forsythia has bloomed!" That statement, then, made us both exit the house and go out and look at her ever-growing bush. We'd begin to see branches that needed to be pruned, and snap a few of them. Then we'd walk around the yard to look at the rest of the flowers; checking for signs of "green" or buds.

By the time her Alzheimer's had gotten quite advanced, I would tell her "The yellow flowers had bloomed". Then I'd take her out to look at them, making sure she didn't get more than a step or two away from me because they lived on such a busy road.

During her last Winter with us, as I anticipated Spring and flowers blooming, I asked my Dad, "Would you let me have Earl 'till some dirt up in the backyard on the edge of the driveway so I could plant flowers for Mama out there?" He said that would be good, because by this time, we were all afraid of her getting outside the house on her own, going out to the road and getting hit by a fast-moving vehicle. (She tried to leave the house two times on MY watch...) As Winter was near it's end, and March came on the calendar, us kids gave Mom and Dad a card (both their BDs were in March) that said, "Good for one double, canopied swing in the back yard." We were going to put it near the new flower bed, so Mama could enjoy the flowers and be safe with Dad or whoever was caring for her at the moment.

However, that was never to be. The Forsythia bloomed, and a few days later, Mama died.

As I saw their beauty, yesterday, it was very bitter-sweet. I don't recall even noticing that they had bloomed in 2007 or 2008. I guess that shows signs of "healing" - that I again noticed "the phenomenon of Spring". As I looked at the bushes, I said out loud, "They've bloomed, Mama. The Forsythia has bloomed." I drove off with tears in my eyes but then a sort of chuckle under my breath as I heard her answer back, "If you think that's pretty, you should see the flowers where I am~!"

Four days from now, April 21, 2009, it will be two years since she went Home. It is still hard for me to believe it has been two years! But, I'm glad to know that she is able to see the most beautiful profusion of flowers ever imagined by us mere mortals - AND, we don't have to worry at all that she will get out by the busy road; the streets where she is are made of pure gold and the flowers bloom forever... and not just the Forsythia~~!

I'm BACK (No Pun Intended~!)

Lord, love a duck, it has been a long time since I've posted a new blog~!

But, I'm back~~!!!

When I titled this, the "no pun intended" was just too appropriate. I had my 3rd major back surgery on December 1, 2008. I've only posted 1 or 2 times since then. But, I am back in the land of the living and starting to feel much, much better.

I am no longer wearing my "corset", although I do have to say there are times it still feels good; so much support! I am going some without my cane - but not completely. I am also off ALL pain medication. That in itself, makes me feel so much better.

For those of you in the dark, I have now had 3 back surgeries that completed the fusion of 5 of my vertebrae in a row; I am fused from L2 - S1. My father's side of the family has this "wonderful gene" called Degenerative Disc Disease. I have it. As far as I am aware, out of the 6 children in our family, I am the only one that has it. Thank you FRITZ FAMILY~~! (I also have a lot of problems with my neck from the same thing, which causes me to have Migraines; LOTS of Migraines.

As I write, I am thankful that I CURRENTLY do NOT have a Migraine. I get them several times a week; sometimes daily. But, I have found the perfect remedy for that. I go the the Pain Clinic associated with Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan, and they do a Rhizotomy on each side of my neck.

First they start out with just a "diagnostic" Nerve Block, which is injections into different openings of the Cervical Spine/Spinal Canal. (Don't worry - they put you to sleep!) If the pain or headaches, etc. subside for any time at all - whether 2 days or 2 weeks, but then returns, they know they have injected the right areas. Sometimes, you will get longer relief each time, because they usually do them in a series of 3; each 1-2 weeks apart. (They can do these all the way down your spine - from neck to low-back, depending on your area of pain.)

However, if by the 3rd Nerve Block you are still having pain, they will do a Rhizotomy. That actually means instead of going in and blocking the nerve (numbing it with a steroid and other medication), they actually destroy the nerve. The method of destruction depends on the location of the injection site. If it is in your neck (Cervical) they use an electro-stimulating needle to do it. If it is from your shoulder (mid-back/Thoracic on down to low-back/Lumbar) they inject a very CAUSTIC mediction. Both methods actually travel down the nerve path(s) and burn/destroy the nerve.

A Rhizotomy is extremely painful for about 3 weeks, as that burning travels down the nerve path it branches out and makes everything on fire from your neck to your shoulder and part of your upper arm. I usually end up having to go in about a week later and having a simple nerve block done, just to calm down the pain while the Rhizotomy is in progress. BUT, the good thing is, every one that I have had, lasts for 1 year! That means NO HEADACHES for a year~!!!!

The nerve(s) will always eventually will grow back, anytime from 6 months to 2 years. I guess I am right in the middle...

Hey, I can only tell you from my experience, the benefits FAR outweigh the pain~!

So, all that being said, I am scheduled next week for one side to be done and 3 weeks later, the other side. Hallelujah!!!

So, while I continue to wait on my back to completely heal (it takes 12-18 months), I am very thankful to be in the place I am. The weather is nice, so I can start walking daily and as soon as the fusion is hardened enough, I will be able to do Aqua Therapy to strengthen my back muscles. (I have to have a CT with "reconstructive images in 3-D done first, go see the Neurosurgeon again, and then He will be able to give me a better idea of "when" I can start.

In the meantime, I have signed up to take classes to become Certified as a Medical Biller/Coder. I start May 5 and am looking very forward to that