As Routine As Brain Surgery Gets

We had what sounded to me like a good report from Dr Fell this morning.  We ended up having an MRI yesterday instead of a CatScan so it would give him more precise information.  The scan showed that the clot has contracted, as we'd hoped, and the tumor is clearly visible and close to the surface. He doesn't foresee any significant complications, other than the routine risks of surgery.  Bobby has been concerned about how much longer he would be in the hospital, and after getting estimates from the nurses ranging from weeks to months, we were very pleased to hear Dr Fell say we should only have to be in the hospital 3 days, one in ICU the rest on a regular floor.  We'll continue speech therapy on an outpatient basis, possibly for 2-3 months. He expects a full recovery.  Sounds great to us.


A little story: This morning we were discussing meals for today, and Bobby told me to go to Cosi's, a little sandwich shop nearby, and showed me what he wanted on their website (Santa Fe Wrap). He's been meeting there every Monday morning with two friends for several years. He told me there's a nice muggle (woman) who lives (works) there and has a little girl (turns out it was a boy), and he wants me to tell her that he "likes her alot,"  So I obediently drove down to Cosi's and was their first customer. I recognized her and told her my husband comes in every Monday. She said, oh yes, he's had cancer, hasn't he?  How's he doing?  I told her not great, and briefly shared the situation, then gave her Bobby's message. I told her that her friendliness and kindness to him every Monday had obviously made an impression, and he wanted her to know.  She was so touched, especially since today is going to be her last day at Cosi's, she's going to a new job starting tomorrow.  We hugged, and we wished each other well. As Bobby and I enjoyed our wraps and coffee back in the room, I was amazed at how God uses the kindness of strangers to bless us, and allows us to be a blessing to others, even in our weakness.

Surgery is scheduled for 9am tomorrow.  We'll report on the other side. Thank you for checking on us and continuing to lift us up, praying that we would be in the center of his perfect will for our lives. He is good and worthy to be praised.  May you all be blessed this Christmas with peace and joy and hope.


Love, Juli



Oh, and I forgot to mention, several of the nurses up here have told me that if they had to have brain surgery, they would want Dr Fell.  I figure that's a pretty good endorsement!