This is about my back surgery which has been scheduled for February 18th of 2008.... Well, I have the surgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers so right off the bat - so I'm good to go - LOL They are breaking out the inside half of two vertebra - L4 and L5... Lumbar region right above my tailbone... Then he is putting a plate and screws to immobilize (fuse) them together. During the operation, he will be transplanting bone marrow from my hip to be used in a bone growth culture to the places I will need the new bone to grow in a better location on those two vertebra. I will have to wear a back brace all the time - I have been provided with a bone-growth stimulator that I have to wear 30 minutes everyday at the same time - every 24 hours - anyway, that is suppose to help it grow more uniform, etc. I will not be able to use stairs, drive, etc., for quite awhile. I will have to have someone come in to take care of me (visiting nurse type person) and my fiance will be getting me food, answer the door, etc., since I will be on the second floor where the bathroom, shower and tub are. I plan on doing EXACTLY what I'm told to do. This is my one chance to be a human again and I don't want to mess things up. Then, there will be the year and a half recovery time that is needed to let the new bone grow to the correct thickness and strength. TaDa! I'll be almost good as new - except for some additional scars - one on my spine and a tiny one on my hip. Soooo if after the 18th of February you don't hear from me much - please know that I'm just trying to recover - and definitely not ignoring anyone :) Thanks to everyone who has already sent their Best Wishes to me - I really appreciate your thinking of me.