Great planning and praying! 🙂

I had cervical and lumbar surgeries in 2022 and 2024 and the hardest was lumbar (L3-L5 decompression and fusion). Mine was invasive. Pain was 11/12 out of 10 for the first week but started to get better gradually afterwards.

I bought grabbers and a bed assist bar to help me pick things up and maneuver in bed/help me get out. I also bought a walker at the hospital and had a cane at home to help me stabilize when standing up and moving about my home after surgery. Bathroom/toilet wiping tool helped to wipe when I wasn’t able to twist/turn. Lots of pillow to prop up head and legs when in bed and a bedside organizer for everything you need close to you next to couch and bed. I used my chair in the shower when I was able to (I needed to wait a couple of weeks but did sponge baths using my hand sprayer).

I am also a single parent of a 15 year old son but do not have any family so you are blessed to have the help you have. Don’t forget to stock up not just for yourself and daughter but also all of your pets. I have 2 rescue dogs and 8 cats so having food, litter, etc. stocked, helped with heavy lifted before surgery. Bending down and twisting is restricted so putting food down and picking up bowls was difficult. Get all vet appointments and grooming done in advance. Pay as many bills ahead as possible to reduce burden for several weeks post op.

A plane trip after surgery puts you at risk for blood clots so make sure you are able to move around often. Will you be in first class? You will be in pain and need more room to move around. If you are in CA and need to go to AZ (I used to live in CA), I would probably opt for driving rather than flying. Yes it is longer but you can control stops and movement breaks and fully recline in your car seat. I moaned in pain for the first week so would be embarrassed to be around people on a plane. 😉 I would have never been able to fly with the pain and discomfort I was in.

Good luck and keep praying! Ask God to guide you in preparing for what is a major surgery, even if minimally invasive. 🙏