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G'day Sam, Quote:
What would YOU do?
PRAY!
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya  --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Quote:
G'day Sam,
Quote:
What would YOU do?
PRAY!
My prayers for years have been...
"God help me to be...
healthy, wealthy, happy and wise
God help me to be...
loving, lovable and loved
God help me to...
make the best of the talents that you have given me
and to be the best that I can be..."
Followed by a 'Hail Mary' and an 'Our Father'...
There are indeed times I have lost faith and times when I have found it again.
I was born and raised up as a Roman Catholic but, with all that I have seen, whilst I acknowledge the Pope as head of the Roman Catholic Church, I do not agree with 'organised religion'. Christ, Our Saviour, was not a mercenary. The Church is mercenary - you only have to see the Churches here in Austria to know that and you can see it with your own eyes. Christ held sermons on a mountain in open air - he didn't need a cathedral or the money from those who could not afford to give, when that money could be better spent on food and clothing.
I believe in God. I believe in Jesus. And, above all, I believe in me.
Glory be, hallelujah
Ultimately, I believe in Life and the Christian way
God bless all of you
And God bless me
NOI intended to any Christians out there and my Maternal Grandmother would no doubt chastise me, if she were still here (God bless her soul) for being so honest in admitting that I do not worship the organised religion that calls itself the Catholic Church - she would get extremely cross if I even took the Lord's name 'in vain'. Still, that's the way it is.
At least I'm honest about my religion
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Just ask Him, out loud, to grant your desire in Jesus' name, man.
--Mac
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Thank you, Mac
I have taken your advice
Respect
And so help me, God
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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G'day Sam,
I have no desire to get into any kind of debate over the relative merits of any Christian church organisation. They (we) all have our strengths and weaknesses.
However, IMHO, the real Christian church, that is the people who acknowledge the risen Christ as their Lord and Saviour, knows no denominational boundaries. Just as Jesus Himself is "no respecter of persons". Genuinely call on Him and He will answer - no matter who your are or how good or bad you think you've been.
I believe all the promises in the Bible, including healing, are for NOW - but be sure to read the full context of any promise - I.E. make sure you get the conditions.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Too true, my friend
Too true
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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I've been thinking about this for days.
I don't know where you are with God. If you do pray, pray enough for an answer. Once you get it - GO WITH THE ANSWER.
or
Do the "through the back" option to avoid possible voice cord damage.
But you asked what I would do. I wouldn't get the operation until I got the ANSWER. Then I would go with the answer.
Probably all of this you've already thought of.
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Thanks, Doc Data
I've been asking around and it seems a lot of people have had this op. Considering the extent of extra damage and pain that is incurred through the back, I have decided to go through the front. Call it intuition, call it prayer. I am also inclined instintively to trust this neurosurgeon here in Vienna but I am still planning to get a second opinion from London.
Prayers always help
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Quote:
Prayers always help
Always!
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Hi Sam,
Prayers sent your way!
Just ask Our Lord to direct you every step of the way.
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Thank you, Ray
Your prayers and everybody else's are very much appreciated at this time
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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So, the call came today. I'm booked for a neck op here in Vienna on 22nd April (well, that's the admittance day - the actual op would probably be the 24th or 25th). That's fixed. No idea who will do the op. All I know is that they need to replace three (3) discs in my neck.
I'm still hoping for a 2nd opinion. The surgeon I was given the contact to in London at the Neurological Institute turns out to be 91 years old! I've dropped that lead. I now have a connection to an Egyptian neurosurgeon (early 40s) in my Mother's local hospital, Southampton. Apparently, he operated on a 60+ year old sheep farmer who farms sheep on my Mother's land - he gave this sheep farmer a 6 hour neck operation from front and back and now the sheep farmer is leaping 5 bar gates! Plus we are lucky enough to be close friends with a retired leading surgeon from the hospital who gave me a hernia operation about 15 years ago. This would seem to be the route we will go. It would be far easier for all concerned. Yes, I know this is MY life but at least we know somebody who has been operated on by this neurosurgeon with great results and that says a lot. It will also be far easier for family and friends to visit and support and for the post-op recovery.
An artist friend of mine will move into my g/f's flat and take over care of my dog and her budgies.
If we can't get in there, we still have the op lined up here.
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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You already know our prayers are with you Sam, but a gentle reminder never hurts 
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Thanks very much. Lawrie. I know that and I really appreciate it.
Funny thing was, my Mother turned round to me tonight (on the telephone) and said...
"You are amazing. I can't believe that you still love your brother. He has been SO lucky - every single thing has worked out his way and now he has everything anyone could dream of. You, on the other hand, have never had any luck at all and nothing has ever gone your way. For every single bit of good luck your brother has had, you have had bad luck. For your brother, everything has always worked out, whereas for you it never has" (of course, it is difficult to put tone of voice across in text - still, she was being positive about us BOTH)
My brother has a house with 19 bedrooms. I have 19 qualifications... Ironic, eh?
Man! I love my brother and I am really proud of him but it does seem sometimes as if life is incredibly unfair. We are in fairly regular contact. Yes, we had a massive physical fight about 14 years ago when he accused me of not having a 'work ethic' (little did he know how hard I work) but that was then. This is now.
Brothers - funny thing, brothers. I have personally met both the Jaggers (Mick and Chris). Mick is 'the man' with his Rolling Stones and has had super luck and great success, on the other hand Chris is virtually unheard of (despite being a far better musician and, to my mind, far more talented singer).
My brother had no intention of finding fame and fortune, whereas I did. However, he was at least able to make the most of every opportunity that came his way. He now has a big house (worth about £5 million) with gardens open to the public, wife, kids, fancy cars and more and he is about to appear on television as a result of it all. I, on the other hand, am still living the life of an impoverished student, financially supported by my Father (Bless him for that), still single, one operation after another and going nowhere fast. My brother took the low road (as Graham 'Furry' would say), whereas I took the High Road. I followed my dreams and had the guts to get out there and do something, he didn't. Yet, he's the one with all the success and I am working myself into the ground hoping for survival.
The brother who didn't seek 'fame and fortune' has it all. The brother who deliberately went out there challenging all in his quest for 'fame and fortune' has nothing. Ironic, eh? Still, I love him and I'm very very proud of him. He's my brother.
Life AIN'T fair. Then again, who said it should be?
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Hi there y'all!  I saw the surgeon here in Southampton yesterday. He totally disagreed with the diagnosis from Vienna, said it was unsafe and that the surgeon there was treating the scans and not the patient. Bearing in mind his training and recommendation, he's right. So, now I will be having the operation in Southampton - only 24 hours in hospital and 3 weeks maximum to full recovery. No discs need to be replaced but I do have some ossification in my spine (C7/T1) that needs to be drilled off. So, I get a knife in my back rather than having my throat cut! I'm in a library now but back online on Sunday. Take care and keep up the music work!! Sam
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Quote:
Hi there y'all!
I saw the surgeon here in Southampton yesterday. He totally disagreed with the diagnosis from Vienna
So, I get a knife in my back rather than having my throat cut!
Sam
Hi Sam,
Sounds like a prayer, answered!
That is much better news than the previous dark forcast.
I know, you'll do fine...
Prayers continuing to be sent your way for a full recovery!
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Much better news, indeed. Now I'm hoping you'll take extra good care of yourself so you're in good physical and mental shape for the upcoming procedure - which sure does sound better than the earlier prognosis and treatment.
Good luck and good health to you, Sam. Thoughts and prayers are with you from all over the world.
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Thanks very much, guys
Got back to Vienna late on Saturday - the journey took hours. Totally exhausted yesterday and starting to recover today.
The new surgeon is an Egyptian and his diagnosis was that the Austrians wanted to treat the MRI scans and not the symptoms. He has really gone out of his way for me already with a full explanation as to what my symptoms point to and what the treatment will be. I still need an operation but I do NOT need 3 discs replaced (he says one is bloody dangerous, two doubly so and three is virutally unheard of). He does state though that ONE disc may need to be replaced in a couple of years or so but not three. His operation will be fairly quick - I go in the morning of the op (no breakfast), they will do the op in the afternoon and release me the following day. He has to go into my back to one vertebra and drill off some ossification / bony growth that is trapping my nerves.
Thank you all very much for your prayers - very much appreciated
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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