Raymond, I have written you a long email, but I want to weigh in here too. Your surgery is much like mine and Sue's ( Susanannette.) I know that she has written to you personally also, about what specific things to expect.

What I want to say is that you will still be YOU! You will have some things to adjust to, but your wife and your famiy and your friends will see only YOU. You will NOT look as different to them as you do to yourself. Ddon't be too hard on yourself. You will look just fine.

Please tell us that you are not going to be a false "hero" here and try to be tough for some reason. Take the medication. You have had tootoo long to think about this, and you deserve to be able to enter your surgery and recovery time strong and determined.

I love the term that I learned here..."the new normal." You will be totally normal, though that "normal" will be different in some ways. You will be able to do whatever you do now.

When you wake up from surgery, you will still be the Raymond your family loves. Don't you worry about that.

You are going to be fine. I do NOT blame you for being anxious. It's a big deal. Promise us that you'll get some anti-anx. med. TOMORROW. You will be able to think and plan better.

You have every person on this board praying for you by name. That should take care of everything!

We're walking right beside you. Never forget it!!