Off-topic: Medical update

Forgive me if I get personal for a moment. Yesterday, in a fit of depression brought on by an impending medical procedure, I mentioned “life-threatening surgery.” Well, the surgical procedures for which I was scheduled (which involved removal of a vertebra, and the insertion of many rods and screws) is life-threatening but no longer imminent. After an agonizing risk/benefit analysis, I concluded that the former outweighed the latter and the status quo could be maintained for another six months or year, or maybe more. (The prospect of having my neck largely immobilized for life weighed heavily against the surgery.) From this I have drawn a few lessons …

Take careful notes. My surgical team kept moving the goal posts, adding more and increasingly severe procedures. Ask lots of questions. Whatever queries one had answered at a consultation, more invariably emerged, with the worst ones arising just five days before surgery. Game-plan for the worst-case scenario. I now have a will and testament of sorts, so I know my affairs will be in good hands (my wife’s) should I ever be incapicitated or worse. Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ to The Man. I was feeling heavy pressure from the surgical team to get sliced up and screwed back together, so it took all my courage to say, ‘Let’s revisit this later.’ And finally, get as many second and third opinions as you can. It is impossible to be under-informed about these situations, as when I learned that I might be spending Christmas in a rehab facility, cut off from my dear wife (whose support has been indispensable throughout this ordeal), doing occupational therapy. I have occupational therapy: It’s called work.

Thanks for your public and private messages of support. Now, about those 70% employment rates on the Strip …