Back surgery here I come! - They listen to Metallica in the OR - Sarah's famous crab croquettes

No, she says, stamping her foot.

I am not a surgery junkie.

We're not sure if we believe her. First she has her kidney transplant in April and nearly four months to the day she's scheduled for back surgery.

What's next? A little stretching of face, a butt lift, and her elbows are a little rough, maybe she can find a doc to smooth the skin.

Hell, the body is a playground, waiting to be made whole again, like when we were 21.

Let's let The Belle tell her story, but keep it brief, please. You wanna watch folksinger Richard Thompson in an hour.

Look, no big deal. Sarah and I drove to Chalfont for my pre-surgery appointment with Dr Guy Lee. It was about a 45 minute drive and I got there an hour early.

I did not wanna get lost and miss my precious appt. We did not get lost.

Dr Guy Lee in labcoat and tie

During the three times I've seen him, he wears a tiny gold cross around his neck. That man - just like us mortals - is accountable to a Higher Power.

While Sarah and I waited for Dr Lee in the exam room, she read to me some exquisite passages from the Upanishads.

We wrote down questions in advance.

- Chance of success? Over 90 percent.

- What could go wrong? He listed a number of things, which he said, are uncommon.

- How long does it take? Half-hour.

- Who's in room? Surgeon, Physician Asst, Anesthesiologist (who leaves after I'm out or dead, whichever comes first), Nurse anesthesiologist. The main anesthesiologist is nearby and can be fetched if needed.

- Recovery time? Four to six weeks before we see full recovery.

- Ever killed anyone? No. Neither has the anesthesiologist.

- What do you wear? Similar to what he wore in the exam room, but a different color. Lee always wears comfy white sneakers.

- Where did you learn how to do these discectomies? Graduated from Temple Medical School, did residency at Einstein, did fellowship at Johns Hopkins Univ. To specialize, you get a fellowship.

Dr Guy Lee volunteered that he listens to Metallica during surgery. "You wouldn't like it," he said, "but of course you won't hear it."

"Oh, I love heavy metal," I said. On the way home Sarah said there's a great documentary about the band I should rent.

And now, here's Metallica. It's quite fantastic. 6 minutes. Enter Sandman, it's called.

Lee and family will vacation at the Jersey shore right before my operation. Just like my chief kidney surgeon Radi Zaki took his family to the San Diego Zoo, the only time he gets to see his family....on a vacation far from home.

Sarah and I parked in the handicap zone but I walked well into the theatre. Beautiful building in Chalfont where they've been a year. He has offices all over the place.

As we drove away, Sarah asked if there were any sights to see in the area.

Yes! I said. Lake Galena.

Down to Lake Galena we went in the hundred-degree heat. I'm not a fan of air-conditioning but you better believe it's on at my house - turned to 80 degrees - and in the car, full blast.

I couldn't figger out how to use the car A/C until my sister Donna taught me. I couldn't remember the concept: Red = hot. Blue = cold.

Methinks I've got it now.

We went down to the Lake and went where they launch the boats. Oh, the times I used to go there and canoe or paddleboat.

After my surgery, after my surgery!

Here's Sarah in her rompers. At mom's house, we discussed the old Romper Room show. Mom remembered the hostess, Miss Sherry, holding up a mirror to her TV audience and saying, Who do I see today? I see Ruthie and Sarah and Bernice.

I could barely remember, but mom's eyes lit up w/happiness.

My sister Donna, intoxicated by the delicious meal which included her choice of Alexia, frozen sweet potato fries. Delicious! I'd never heard of em before. Have you?

When Sarah comes to town, it's cause for great celebration. We call her "Say" for short.

She made a phenomenal meal: Crabcake Croquettes, a favorite of her husband Ethan.

Scott will model them for you:


Yesterday I had my first visit w/my endocrinologist, Dr Nissa Blocher from Einstein Medical Center, practicing now in a huge building in Elkins Park.

Just about every one of the patients couldn't find the place b/c the Chernoff Associates moved in about a month ago. I had no problem - who me? - the always-gets-lost-kid? - but I was able to drive nice and slow and find the place next to the old Rolling Hill Hospital.

They fit me in so I waited a horrific four hours, devouring every magazine in the place and having the great pleasure of speaking to Johnny, who got an Einstein kidney transplant on May 14, 2010. He's doing very well.

I asked for his email address hoping to put him in our book. He said he just decided to write a book too.

Dr Blocher, who I love, told me that many transplant units no longer prescribe prednisone as an antirejection med. That caused my diabetes, tho she said tacrolimus may contribute to it as well.

And, who, pray tell, invented Prednisone? Why, Arthur Nobile, 1920-2004.

After my surgery appt. today, I sent this email to my nephrologist, Dr Ghantous in Willow Grove:

I'm getting back surgery on August 3 for my painful sciatica caused by a disc herniation.

Dr Guy Lee is performing the micro-discectomy at AMH.

Dr Kung, nephrologist at Einstein Medical Center, where I had my kidney transplant on April 1, approved the operation.

I'll also meet with an anesthesiologist before surgery to go over my special needs, which include ...

Dr Ghantous, can you think of anymore concerns the operating doctors should be aware of?

I don't want to end up like Ron Springs, a Dallas Cowboy who received a kidney from a fellow player, and then, thru surgery for a minor complaint, ended up brain dead for five years.