The Power of Prayer

I was not normally a fearful person, but the totality of my injury circumstances included a flattened spinal cord in my neck and being on numerous Rx's that did far more to numb my brain, than my pain, left me terrified.

I then did what any (stupid) person would do in my shoes, I got on the internet and pulled up a video of the actual procedure that I booked with the neurosurgeon.  (ACDF or Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion)

Now, permit me to say that I have assisted in out-patient eye surgeries, have seen traumas to the eye, and have observed knee surgery in the operating room.  No problem. 

I am also one of the many fascinated by the medical conditions we humans develop for which you will find TV shows which include surgery.  Blood isn't a problem for me.  Watching people be cut open, isn't a problem for me. 

Queue the spinal surgery video of my procedure.  Yeahhhhh, that was a problem for me!  I don't think I lasted 90 seconds. 

Although not a bloody procedure, it was overwhelming and I fell apart.  So, my first piece of advice would be to not ever do what I did.  Educate yourself about your procedure; ask questions, read, but skip the video. 

Although I have to admit that I did ask my neuro to record the surgery and he did.  It was January 4, 2010.  And someday, I will be ready to watch it.  I tried once not long after the surgery; but it was too fresh and I haven't tried since. 

Once I made the commitment to this procedure and my surgeon, I began to pray, hard.  I ask God very specifically "Please bless me with the least pain possible for this procedure, the most success possible and the fastest healing that anyone has ever had from it."   Prayers answered!  I still have the expired pain pills, that I didn't need! 

When I saw my neuro for my 6 week follow-up he said that my cadaver bones were already seeded at a level that he normally doesn't see until 6 months out! 

I left his office and thanked God repeatedly the whole way home, knowing He had indeed, answered my prayers!  I also had many wonderful and loving people put me on their church prayer lists because I do believe in the power of prayer.  Thus, if you need to have any surgery, I recommend you do the same. 

If you don't belong to a church, that's okay, you can still ask one to pray for you.  If you aren't comfortable doing that, contact one of the ministers on my God page and ask them to put you on a prayer list.