Diane Bailey

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place . We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.   Following two years of deteriorating health, I recently learned that I must undergo a high risk surgery to replace four discs in my neck and to fuse the surrounding vertebrae in order to maintain my independence and what mobility I currently have.  Even with the surgery I face the possibility of complete disability and eventual paralysis.   I am undergoing this urgently needed operation at Maine Medical Center on Thursday, December 1st.   I will find out more specific details about the procedure and what to expect in terms of my recovery at a pre-operative consultation I have with my surgeon on Monday, November 28th.  All prayers and support are welcome and needed during this profoundly distressing and frightening time.  I have asked my sister, Cathy, to post updates and keep my family and friends informed.  In the first several days immediately following the operation all of my energy will go towards healing and recovery and I ask that you use this website to keep up to date,   Please contact us through this site rather than calling me during the first week as I will be unlikely to respond or answer your questions.  My sister will keep the journal up to date and welcomes your partnership in helping me through this. You can use the features of this site to communicate and ask questions and she will check it frequently and respond.  Once I'm feeling better, you may actually hear from me instead of her as I progress.  We welcome your love and support.  If you are considering visiting me, please contact us through this website or check with the nursing staff at the hospital first to make sure I'm up to it. Please know that while I will have my phone with me, I am not likely to respond to calls or texts in the first few days so please be patient with me.  I will respond when I am able.