FYI everyone,
Dad's surgery went very well!! We arrived at 5:30am 3 waiting rooms later they took him to preop at 6:15, in the OR at 7 and began on time at 7:30. The hospital gave us a number and they had screens up throughout the waiting area (which was a huge atrium. Very nice I might add.....except our family as well as the other families there all agreed they should have a huge play area for kids...like they do at malls...
) this number allowed you to track the process of your family member at what point their surgery was in....pre op, in OR , Recovery, and dismissed. It showed the times as well. I thought this was very very neat! The surgery nurse called out every 2 hours (as we requested) to give us updates. Surgery took a little over 9 hours. The drilling alone to get it took 5 hours, ya just dont realize how long that takes. I guess all the TV shows make it look so easy!! It was a very long day.....to say the least!! At 5:35pm He was moved to recovery.
About 6:15pm Dr Welling came out and sat down with the entire family( he pulled a chair right up the our entourage)....he let us know what to expect when we saw him....ex. he would have ahuge wrap on the right side of his head....the right side of his face would be "druppy" b/c it was weak do to surgery. He told us that all in all it went very very well....Dad was a trooper....the tumor did in fact look benign as expected that the facial nerve was fully intact and it came off of the stem of the brain with no problems. Dr Welling answered everyones questions and then he turned to all of us and thanked everyone for coming up. He said he loved to come out and see so many people praying and being supportive. I thought that was a very wonderful thing for him to say to a family!!! It made me realize that he didnt look at my Dad as just another patient or us as just another family he really understood that even though he does this everyday, we dont!!
About 7:30pm my Mom and I got to go back and see him.....they would have let us all go back 2 at a time but everyone packed up to go home (back to Zanesville). I was prepared to see him but when its your loved one.....it still hits ya kinda hard no matter how prepared!!! My Dad has never ever had any surgery the most he has ever had was teeth fixed and stitches! So I knew this would be hellacious for him!! We went in and he was just kinda moaning and kept repeating "Oh my god" over and over!! His speech was slurred a bit but he looked at me and asked if they had got it all out. I told him yes and I also let him know that Dr Welling was impressed with how well he did......my dad the goof ball he is.... said "why?? I didnt do anything!!" It was good to hear him joke even in lala land!!
He told my mom and I that he loved us!!! He kept saying he couldnt lay his hand down he!! He couldnt lay his left hand down all the way b/c the had the oxygen rate device on his finger and it was holding his finger up....He said his back hurt (as you recall he has a twisted spine) but the meds were helping that. He also kept telling us he was really tired!! We let him know that he needed to just relax, obviously that would be difficult!!
....My mom decided not to stay at the hospital so we came home. The nurse assured us she would take good care of him and told us to call whenever we wanted. My mom called 3 times throughout the night. This morning they told her that he has said he is feeling much better . We are getting ready now and going up at 10.
Thanks for everyones prayers and support. It has really made a huge difference for my entire family!!! Being able to ask questions and do research (if you will) on a personal level is a blessing!!
I will keep you updated!!
