Yesterday morning for the first time since the operation, I stood up out of bed without my hardworking wife helping me by pulling up on my left armpit. I don't think my inability was recovery related; almost no abdominal muscles are involved. I think my success was related to mental practice of the same old technique I had used prior to the operation: Position the feet just so, place the hands on the wheelchair, and pull to standing.

This morning, today, I needed help sitting up, but not standing up. Go figure.