In London at one of his final European concerts Leonard Cohen apologized to his audience for sky-high ticket prices that had caused financial inconvenience for many. With a nod to the memory of Canada’s gift to the world, I’m borrowing his phrase.

Several have asked what specifically was the back-surgery Dr. Joshua Ammerman performed on July 17^th.  It was bi-lateral lumbar 4-5 laminectomy. He judges the two-hour procedure at DC’s Sibley Hospital a complete success. That assessment matches my own and Shel’s preliminary conclusion.  We have a follow-up appointment this week.

To recap, my spinal stenosis was first detected in an early November 2023 MRI.  Three-months of PT was prescribed.  It did nothing to relieve what had become chronic lower back and leg pain. In fact, I got slowly, progressively worse. Increasingly I felt pain in the shoulders and hands.  I couldn’t unlock doors or open containers. Swollen fingers made it uncomfortable to type. While I continued to broadcast, setting up the mic became difficult. But thank goodness there was no mental deterioration.

By April it was too painful to play squash. Later that month I gave up cycling as I lost confidence in swinging my leg over the bar.

My orthopedic surgeon advised a steroid injection which occurred April 28^th. After the sugar high of two days improvement, my condition deteriorated, so much so that I cancelled the scheduled second injection.

The more than four-weeks of preparation for surgery began in June. I was finding it difficult to sleep, typically getting up six to eight times a night. Life was boring. I feared that approaching 81 I might too old for surgery. Perhaps I wouldn’t survive. Repeatedly my life’s story played out in my mind.  It seemed that a career of writing and broadcasting was behind me. 

Sagging spirits regularly rebounded only because of heartfelt expressions of concern and hope from family and good friends. July 17^th couldn’t come soon enough.

After surgery I was home after 30-hours. Improvement in motion and absence of pain was immediate even as I followed the advice of no lifting, keeping the back straight and walking progressively farther each day. Hands and shoulders are improved but still problematic. Tylenol doses are down to two and even zero pills per day.

To sum up, it’s too early to declare victory but I feel I have a new lease on life. I walk without pain. I am beginning to think I have a future. I am exceedingly lucky. But there is an important caveat. I might have faced an existential challenge but there are so many far worse off than I.

I am so grateful to family and friends.  Without their constant support my spirits would not be as high as they are now.  Thank you.#