Thank you again!!! I have been trying to find information on the VATS procedure but the internet medical sites haven't been a good resource. My neighbor's son-in-law works for Medtronic as a tech who assists neurosurgeons locally using their spine devices but he hasn't been able to find doctors who do this specific surgery here in west Michigan. I will be thankful for any additional information you can send my way. My main concern is that on a recent MRI, it shows a "right central T10-T11 disc extrusion, migration compressing traversing right T11 nerve root lateral recess. Small left central T10-T11 disc extrusion. Mild to moderate T10-T11 central stenosis with subtotal CSF effacement, no cord deformity or signal abnormality. Moderate right foraminal stenosis." It would be very helpful to ask Dr. Fogelson about surgeons at Mayo doing surgery to access this type of herniation. (Your painting of him is so very well done!) Sue K.