Third Time's The Charm

[Updated 3:47 PM CST]

3:00 PM (CST)
Mama and Dad were called in to see Henry in ICU. He looks gorgeous. He woke enough to tell us that he's thirsty, and to tell us that he can talk (a major milestone). Dr. S came by and told us how well the surgery went and that Henry is doing great. He still needs to be watched carefully for the next 24 hours, and there will be yet another MRI to confirm our results, but we look forward to good news and minimal negative effects.

1:00 PM approx (CST)
Dr. S came up to the room. He said the surgery went very well: the tumor came out cleanly, the arteries and veins were not damaged, and the nerves looked good. He thought he would try to take the breathing tube out today, and said we would have a swallowing test in a day or two.

12:28 PM (CST)
Nurse P said Henry is doing great and that they have begun closing. He should be released to the ICU in 40 minutes.

11:26 AM (CST)
Nurse P reported that Henry is doing great and estimated about two more hours of surgery.

10:24 AM (CST)
Nurse P called to tell us that all continues well and that a tissue sample was sent to the lab (a tissue sample is required for admission to St. Jude, if we, in fact, are transferred there).

9:20 AM (CST)
Nurse P called and reported that Henry is fine and so far all is well.

8:20 AM (CST)
The surgical Nurse called to say that surgery had begun at 8:09 AM and that everything was fine - all Henry's vitals are good.

Dr. S had said that he does not use any "stealth"- style guidance system for this particular surgery (although he does use surgical microscopes), so there was less set up time this morning compared to Henry's previous surgeries.

6:30 AM (CST)
Henry was prepped for surgery in his room and then transported downstairs to the second floor where the operating room is.

On the way into the OR patients pass through the "Bunny Room." This is actually a small hallway decked out like a toy shop, where the kids can pick a toy before going into surgery.

We then met briefly with the surgeon, Dr. S, and then the anesthesiologist, who gave us the procedural rundown. We met Dr. S's partner, Dr. B, and the attending nurse, who said she would call us every hour once surgery was underway. At 7:15 AM he was wheeled into the OR.

For whatever reason (very likely a different type of sedative), Henry was a bit more apprehensive before going into the OR, and that of course made Mama & Dad even more nervous. There is no formal waiting room for the OR, so we will wait in the room on the 5th floor until he is moved to ICU on the second floor, where we will have a parent's room.