My Dear Friends and Family, After years of struggling with chronic back and leg pain, I have decided to undergo lumbar disc removal, with fusion surgery and bone grafting to address the issue once and for all. My team and I are hopeful that this surgery will be a huge step toward a pain-free life. While surgery and recovery are scary, my bigger struggle is with the thought of asking for help. As you all know, I am fiercely independent and like to be self-sufficient. It's difficult for me to ask for assistance. However, I have come to realize that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength and courage. 📆 Please see my "Care Calendar" with detailed information, including dates, times, and my needs. 🤢 My recovery process will require me to be immobile for approximately 6 weeks. 🍲 My main requests are for assistance with meals and eating assistance. ⏰ Timeline: July 27th: Surgery - 8 Hours July 29th: Leave Hospital July 29th - September 10th: Need Food & Visitors September 25th: Return To PT October 10th: Return to Work 🤞 🏥 About The Procedure: TLIF Open Back Fusion Surgery with Bone Grafting Northwestern Memorial Hospital Feinberg Pavilion| 251 East Huron Street, Chicago | 312.926.5450 Dr. Tyler Koski Short video: https://youtu.be/IgfeOxVdQQA Webpage: https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/spinal-fusion/transforaminal-lumbar-interbody-fusion-tlif-back-surgery 🙏 I am grateful for the love and support that you have shown me throughout my life. Thank you in advance for your kindness and understanding as I navigate this new chapter in my life. 🤕 I look forward to keeping you updated on my progress and hope to see you all soon. ❤️‍🩹 If you are ever in a similar situation, please know that it is okay to ask for help. We are all in this together, and sometimes the greatest act of kindness is simply asking for what we need. Thank you for your understanding and support. Love, David