Hi everyone. Husband Jay here. So many well wishes and prayers from SO MANY PEOPLE. Amazing. We can’t thank you enough. Lots of requests for updates. So thought I would keep everyone in the loop.

Friday June 21st

Surgery on Monday was a success and as of today we’re back home. Anne’s resting as comfortably as she can. Next 2 weeks will be a journey of pain management, mobility, and getting back to the “new” version herself. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, prayers, and and show of support. It really meant a lot to her.

-Jay

Wednesday June 19th

Surgery on Monday was a success!

Anne is still in the hospital. She’s in a good deal of pain and has limited mobility but both are improving with each day. She’s on a lot of pain medication and sleeping a lot. Hospital staff have been excellent and she’s being very well taken care of.

Shes now taking longer test walks with the occupational therapist and sitting up in a recliner for short periods. Hoping to get her eating regular foods by tomorrow. Biggest challenge is managing medication, her alertness, and flushing the anesthesia out of her system so digestion “wakes up” and everything works like it should. At just over five hours it was a lot of time under anesthesia.

Shes resilient AF so in a few weeks she’ll be feeling like her old self!

-Jay

TUESDAY JUNE 18th

Today is all about pain management and walking (with a walker) 2-3x throughout the day.

MONDAY JUNE 17th

9:30pm

• She took her first short walk then fell asleep.

6:30pm

• Been with her last 2 hours. Fair amount of pain but she’s doing ok.  Nursing staff taking good care of her.

4:15pm

• Still not out of recovery and in a room so I haven’t yet seen her. Been 8 hours sitting in the hospital waiting. Recovery room nurse said she was awake but very groggy. Hopefully in a room soon and I can see her.

2pm SUCCESS!!

• Surgeon said everything went great!! No complications. She’s asleep and headed to recovery room. Will have a rough few days at first but expects a full and complete recovery!

1:35pm

• Still in surgery. No updates. (That’s a good thing)

6am – 12n

• Early start. We got to hospital at 6:15 this morning. She was nervous but in good spirits.
• Wheeled Anne in to OR room for prep at 8:30.
• Surgery procedure itself began at 9:20am. OR nurse called shortly after and said everything was fine.
• Expected to take 4-5 hours then 90 mins in recovery. Will keep you all posted

-Jay

p.s. I’m sensing a pattern of  superfluous information here.

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“TELL EVERYONE LETS DO THIS”

(She also told the anesthesiologist “Make mine a double with a squeeze of lime”)

6:20am – SURGERY CENTER WAITING ROOM

SHARING A LAUGH AT DINNER IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN LAST NIGHT.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON – ONE HOUR KEYNOTE, STANDING OVATION, AND BOOK SIGNING. NO ASPIRIN OR ADVIL ALLOWED IN WEEK BEFORE SURGERY. ANNE GOT IN CAR AFTER EVENT IN TEARS AND SAID “I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I JUST DID THAT. PURE ADRENALINE. MY BACK HURTS SO BAD.”

Quick Overview – Double Fusion L4, L5, and S1

Thoracic surgeon opens up her belly and clears internal organs, veins, muscles, etc for spinal surgeon to go in from the front for phase one. They remove bad discs and implant spacers. They close her up and flip her over and operate again from the back. Expected to take ~5 hours on table. Good overview of single fusion process on this YouTube video. Anne is having it done twice