I can’t believe that these are really pictures of my back. I now have this thing that I think you can buy at Home Depot in my spine. I’ve had several people that have observed an Artificial Disc Replacement and it is similar to most home repair projects. Lots of hammering and twisting, etc . . . From what I understand, it is hardly a delicate process.

My body confirms that right now. Today we spent a couple of hours at the hosptial meeting with the doctor and our new friend Anita. Anita in an American that works for the doctor and helps International Patients through the process. She has been a big help. Then, we went downtown one last time and had some lunch. After all of that, I was dying. The big problem with being out is that the brace that I wear presses right on my incision. After wearing it for 3 or 4 hours today, my incision was killing me. I’m better now after a nap and no brace for a little while.

Tomorrow, we are headed home. I’m not sure how I will do since I need to wear the brace while riding in the car. That’s going to be 6 or 7 hours so I’m not really looking forward to it. We will take lots of stops and the doctor gave us a prescription for some good pain medication that we will get filled before we leave in the morning.

Pray for Valerie as she isn’t looking forward to the drive. Pray for me that I won’t be in too much pain.

Budapest . . . here we come!!!