Mom in surgery

Traffic was horrible this morning, but Dad and I got to Mom's room in plenty of time. David and Pastor Jeri were there, and Sean showed up a bit later.

Mom was groggy and opened her eyes only with difficulty. Personally, I'm glad: sleepy and calm is better than anxious or sullen or resigned. The staffers wheeled Mom out of her room at 8:53; the slow, stately march to the patient elevators reminded me of a solemn procession. Mom stayed in a pre-op isolation room (for MRSA-positive patients) for about an hour; she was tended to by nurses and visited by the usual complement of anesthesiologists and surgeons (Drs. Leiphart and Kerr were there). At 9:50, Mom was wheeled off to surgery.

We're in the main waiting room now; I missed Dr. Leiphart's spiel, but David filled me in. There is apparently a section of tumor that had been left alone after the first surgery because of its proximity to certain blood vessels in the brain that are, in turn, close to parts of the brain that deal with Mom's legs and locomotion. Dr. Leiphart now wants to remove this section of tumor because of the current infection risk, but said that there's a chance that the blood vessels might "crack" or otherwise rupture, leaving Mom's legs paralyzed. David guesses that the surgeons believe the benefits outweigh the risks, so an attempt will be made to remove this part of the tumor.

Now, it's just a matter of waiting.

UPDATE: It's 12:30. About two-and-a-half hours have passed. Still no word.

UPDATE, 2:34PM: It's been four-and-a-half hours, and we've received word that the surgeons are closing up and will see us shortly.


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