What took you so long, Dad?

 

My kids have been after me for a while to deal with my back. I am finally getting ready for a procedure I have put off for about six months. Dr. Catino is going to do a spinal fusion and spinal decompression. From what I understand, a disc in the lower part of my back is not doing its whole job. This has allowed the disc above to slip forward by about 8 mm, that is a little over ¼ inches. Truth be told, this is the first time I have but a visual to 8 mm. Depending on their thickness, stack 8-10 credit cards, ouch.  Now I can see why when I walk too long, everything below my waist—about the point of the impaired disc—starts to go numb. Makes it hard to walk.

I put the procedure off for a few months so we could get a large project at work done. Phase one is on hold due to our business partner and phase two was rolled out to production last night. When I last talked with Dr. Catino, I thought I heard him say returning to my desk job work after two full weeks of recover would be fine. Once I presented the plan at work, they told me with this type of medical event, you needed to use FMLA. And, by the way, you will be paid during that time so do not worry. I am very thankful to be working at Range Resources. More on that later.

The real point of blogging about this is to process my feelings as well as the facts. I am very hopeful. To say it breaks my heart might be an exaggeration, but our dog Rocket remembers our daily walks to the park and up around the playground. So do I. (pause for emotion) Now, we walk to the end of the block and back. He used to give me the look—the one that tore at my heart—when I turned in after so short a walk. Can’t we keep going, he seemed to say. Now, he knows the drill. Sometimes we walk around the library where they have benches for a respite. We both look forward to much longer walks.