[BostonRott]

The thing that is confusing me is the term "compressed lumbar." Lumbar is not a thing, it is an area of the body, just like your torso is an area of your body. Lumbar refers to the area roughly of the small of the back.....the spine between the ribs and the pelvis. I was just wondering if she had 2 compressed lumbar disks, or if it was one lumbar disk and one higher, since you said "high in the spine."

Disks don't touch, so they couldn't compress each other. They are a cushion between each vertebrae. The spinal cord itself is not capable of compressing anything, it has the consistancy of jelly. It is encased in a fibrous "sac" called the meninges (spinal meningitis being an inflamation of the meninges......).

I think your decision is very humane. Not an easy one to make, but truly compassionate and I commend you for that.