Kathy,

Getting the older "trunk" to re-sprout is iffy. It might, and it might not... the woodier it is, the less likely, I would guess. I had a couple of beharensis that I chopped off, and the old stems did not make new shoots... but then I cut off another one, and it sent a new sprout from the root crown, right at soil level! As long as your tops re-root, I would say that you have nothing to lose, so just go for it.