I read an Italian study in the New England Journal of medicine that basically found that if you surive the dissection and surgery at least 30 days out, your average life expectancy is about 11 months longer than they would normally expect for you. The reason for that is because they speculated that you take better care of yourself once you have been through it. I can attest that you do! I have been waking up every morning now for almost 10 years since I had my dissection and I'm thankful for every day I have on earth and I am thankful for all of the people around me who love me and support me. I do not focus on what's behind me or what's in front of me. None of us are going to last forever, but while I'm here, and in the here and now, I am going to be of service to others. That's what gets me up every morning and no matter how long I'm here or how short every day will be just like the last. I'm so thankful to have been given all this extra time, and I honestly will tell you that after you've been through this surgery, you'll feel the same way. Peace.