SEVEN DAYS AND COUNTING

And the countdown really begins, 7 days.  No more pushing it to the backs of our minds...it's pretty much front and center and unable to be pushed anywhere even in the business of the day.  It's reality.

So, a lot of you are still unclear what's going on with Brooke's back and what is involved with the procedure(sorry, Brooke is her middle name and what I've called her since she was born, that is besides Sunshine.  BTW, she let her preschool teachers know, "Only my Mama calls me Brooke."  So, don't attempt it, she'll set you straight).

So, here's a look firsthand.

Normal lordosis is the two forward curves seen in the neck (cervical spine) and low back (lumbar spine). Normal kyphosis is the two backward curves seen in the chest (thoracic spine) and hip areas (sacral spine). Each of the naturally occurring and normal soft curves serves to distribute mechanical stress incurred as the body is at rest and during movement.

Ashley's Lateral X-rays

Ashley has wedging of the thoracic vertebrae and then the exaggerated lordosis in her lower back.  The film on the left was from 2010 and although it shows the kyphosis, her posture is still normal.  The film on the right is current and her posture is beginning to have a forward pitch.  Her thoracic spine is now literally hanging out further than her behind. Dr. Hey explained, and I have also read on other patient's blogs, that after surgery patient's can suffer a brief issue with imbalance because their center of gravity has changed and the brain has to re-train itself (thankfully, as Dr. Hey explained, the brain is able to do this fairly quickly).

One of many concerns is that Ashley's curve has progressed although she has been skeletally mature

over this time period.

Ashley's fusion will be from T3 to L3, 13 levels, and then she'll have the titanium rods inserted and attached just to secure the spine until the fusion is completely solid.  For the fusion, Dr. Hey will use bone grafts from Ashley's spine where the osteotomies are performed as well as sterile cadaver bone graft. During the procedure her spine will be monitored with what is called evoked potential monitoring for sensory and motor function. 

Well, that's a little more information on what's going to take place or fairly close to it, like I said I'm not sure I want to know every metal instrument detail at this point.

I can't end without leaving an amazingly uplifting and encouraging passage from God's Word

GOD'S PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF MAN

"O LORD, You have searched me and know me,

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there, Your hand shall lead me,

And your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"

Even the night shall be light about me;

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to you.

FOR YOU FORMED MY INWARD PARTS;

YOU COVERED ME IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB.

I WILL PRAISE YOU, FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE;

MARVELOUS ARE YOUR WORKS,

AND THAT MY SOUL KNOWS VERY WELL.

MY FRAME WAS NOT HIDDEN FROM YOU,

WHEN I WAS MADE IN SECRET,

AND SKILLFULLY WROUGHT IN THE LOWESET PARTS OF THE EARTH.

YOUR EYES SAW MY SUBSTANCE, BEING YET UNFORMED.

AND IN YOUR BOOK THEY ALL WERE WRITTEN,

THE DAYS FASHIONED FOR ME,

WHEN AS YET THERE WERE NONE OF THEM.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be

more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!

Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

For they speak against You wickedly;

Your enemies take Your name in vain.

Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

I hate them with perfect hatred;

I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 139