Police: Man ate pot candy before shooting his wife

[Ghost in the Machine]

115. Thank you, catbyte. I've had two major neck surgeries because of my condition. Multi-level

lamenectomies with exspansile duraplasty. They took my vertebrae out from C-5 to T-3 and shaved the insides of them to make them larger because my spinal cord was so swollen it pressing against the vertebra, causing the tethered cord syndrome. My Neurosurgeon left the one at C-4 because he said that is where the biggest chance of becoming paralyzed is, and I was still able to walk so didn't want to risk touching it.

When he saw my first MRI he was in total disbelief and said that, due to the extent of my injuries, he didn't understand HOW or WHY I was still walking, that I *should* have been a quadriplegic. I've also beat another odd... the average lifespan of someone with my condition is 45 years old. I just turned 51. September will be 10 years since my first surgery, and I see my Neuro at least once a year for follow-up MRI's and to check the progression. Every time I walk in, he smiles from ear to ear and is almost in tears telling me he can't believe I'm still walking... and living! I signed papers for him to film my surgery, and he uses it to teach others. He is private practice, but works at a teaching hospital (University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville Campus).

I have 'trauma induced'/'acquired' syringomyelia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syringomyelia

I feel for you, too. My mom had a few bouts with shingles a couple of years ago, and it was AWFUL! Hers affected her neck, face and head. We had taken her out to eat for her 70th birthday, and had an attack during the meal. It was so bad that all she could do was to hold her head and cry. We were parked on the side of the building, which happened to be near a locked fire exit, and was right where we were sitting too. Management was nice enough to unlock the door and let us carry her out that way instead of having to carry her all the way through the restaurant and half way around the building. I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.

You take care too, and best wishes for pain-free days for you.....

Peace,

Ghost