What the Surgery Entailed

Dr. Mitchell first made an incision on Deedy's neck (anterior) and removed vertebra C5 and C6. He then "joined" C4 to C7 with bone. He then covered the area with a metal plate. This took about three hours. She was turned over and work began on the posterior neck area where an incision was made and several screws plus two rods were inserted. She will have little or no movement of her head forward and backward but should have side to side movement.


She has never lost movement in her hands and arms, thankfully.

Deedy still has no movement in her legs but does have feeling and that sensation seems to be improving. She cannot wiggle her toes but quickly acknowledges when we wiggle them for her!

She is still on the ventilator.

For her to walk again will require long-term extensive rehabilitation, starting as inpatient. The doctor cautioned us to only expect improvement in terms of months, but don't expect it in days or even weeks.

We are anxious to make plans for her trip back to Oklahoma.