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Hello: This is a summary update on Barbara's medical trials. She's home now and recuperating fairly well. Last Tuesday drove her to the hospital before 7:00AM for various tests. She was first given an MRI than an X-ray, and then she was admitted to a semi private room in the neuro-surgical floor. I met the nurse who was to care for her and discussed in detail the drug menu that I had printed and emphasized the importance of adhering to it. The nurse maintained that if the medications were not in a labelled container she could not dispense it, but I still gave Sinemet and Permax to Barbara. I went home for dinner and went back to the hospital shortly after 6:00PM, but Barbara had been taken to the operating room. I was directed to wait downstairs in the surgery waiting room and then in the ward's waiting room. I was told then that Barbara was in the recovery room and needed the evening Parkinson medication, but there would still be a long wait and I should go home. I never got to talk to the neuro-surgeon. Barbara was given morphine post-op for the pain as was previously after the colon operation three years before. But this time, she reacted differently; she apparently past the moon in her escape from reality. It took many hours for the morphine to clear the system and she was then given Percoset Wednesday evening and at night. The following morning, she had to be taken for a scan, but she had to be sedated because of severe dyskinesia and uncooperation, and she was given Haldol in a combination with at least a half a dozen other substances. And off, she went again into another orbit. Our neurologist claimed that Barbara was reacting like a typical Parkinsonians who undergo surgery. She suggested that Barbara would be far better in a home environment with family attending. The surgery went very well and Barbara will be wearing a neck brace for perhaps three months. Friday morning she was discharged by the neuro-surgeon's assistant. She got dressed and returned her home where Leah attended her most of the day. Aaron, our son, came on Saturday and Sunday to assist, and Eddy, our son in law, also came on Sunday. She is almost back to normal with her diet of pills and food. A companion that we hired, took gentle care of her, and then took her shopping today. After a refreshing bath, she finally came down to eat in the dining room to the warm greeting of many residents. The freezer is well stocked with many containers of ice cream. Barbara is particularly grateful to the many friends who wished her well, and those who prayed for her as well. We believe this has helped her. What we need now is a cure for Parkinson! Love Michel 'Carpe Diem' more than ever.