Being Released =)

I went to see my surgeon a few weeks ago for a one-year postoperative visi.  i had an X-ray also to see if my vertebrae had fused together.  She told me that the fusion was complete, and that as far as she was concerned, I was "cured."  That was all I needed to hear!  she said that her door is always open, in case i were to develop problems down the road.  But for now, I can safely say that I am in a new phase now.  I'm no longer "recovering," but I'm living!!!  I can't tell you the last time that I used my grabber/reacher thingy.  I just don't need them like I used to, Praise God!!  Now mind you, I do have some soreness that lingers, but it is manageable, & there's nothing structurally stopping me from doing whatever I need to do!  How liberating!