Seawind,

Yes, I have had two fusions; C3/C4 (2004) and C5/C6 (this September). I agree with Gloria...go for it! But it IS VERY NORMAL to be frightened. I was...both times. But both surgeries went very well. You should be up and walking around the same day. But since you said you have 4 little ones to care for, I would definitely enlist some help. It is not the downtime from the surgery, it is the "fusing" itself...it can take a few months and during that time you shouldn't lift anything over 10 lbs. at first and for me, at the moment, I am still not to lift anything over 25 lbs. Hang in there!