Surgery Update

Hello from Shawnee Mission! Well, it has been a long day already and there's still a lot left to go! We checked in at 10:30 for the scheduled 12:30 surgery. The surgeon didn't come back to visit us until about 2:30 right before they wheeled him back. Dr. Graham reassured us that this was the right decision and both of us are comfortable with the path we've chosen. However, he felt that the location for the stoma (the opening where the ileostomy bag will be located) that we had selected with the stoma specialist was too low, meaning that he would raise it up a little. So we're a little unsure if it will fall below his waist (ideal!!) or above his waistline (what he had before).

The surgery began at about 3:20...so much later than expected. We have heard from the operating room a couple of times so far. Apparently he is doing fine/it is going fine but there is a lot of scar tissue to deal with so it's "going to be a while". Not totally sure what that means, but if we hear back again I will post an update. Once he's out of surgery, Dr. Graham will come talk with us and then it will be an additional hour to hour and a half before Paula and I will be able to see him when he gets put into his room. So we're looking at a late evening!

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers! We are blessed with a tremendous support system and we thank God for that every day. You all are the best!

Love,
Janelle