Surgery Scheduled for August 19

My surgery is scheduled for late Wednesday morning. However, I need to be at Johns Hopkins at 5:30 am for a final MRI. The doctor will review the results of this scan before operating. If all is as it was earlier, the precedure should involve creating a dime-sized opening on the top of my skull and removing the grape-sized tumor that is sitting there on top of my brain. Pop will take me to the hospital and stay during the surgery. We know of at least one friend who will be with him during that time.

I do not know how long the surgery will last nor the particulars of my recovery, except that I will need to sleep with my head elevated at least 30 degrees and may not lift any weight over ten pounds. I don't know how long I will be in the hospital. I don't know how soon I'll be able to drive.

According to an acquaintance who had the same surgery about six months ago, she had a bad headache the day after surgery but no pain after that. She felt extemely tired for about two weeks, but felt back to normal in about a month. I am hoping for a similar result!

Jonathan is here, and will be here until Saturday. Aunt Beth is driving up today and will be here through Thursday. Then she and Heather are making a quick trip to New Hampshire to run a triathalon on Saturday (or maybe that's a trip to NH to run a quick triathalon)! She'll come here again after that, but I don't know how long she plans to stay next week. Thomas will be flying in this Saturday to attend a friend's wedding on Sunday. He'll be returning to Indiana on Monday. Ladies from church are providing dinners (every other night, in case of left-overs) for two weeks beginning this Wednesday. They have also volunteered to do laundry, shopping, cleaning, etc. All this is to say that I have plenty of help for the remainder of this week and into next week. I'll know better after the surgery what other help I may need.

Jonathan will be staying with the younger children on Wednesday. Pop will call him with periodic updates. So, please log on to my Facebook--I'll have Jon update there, or call Jon's cell phone or the home phone to check on my status.

I really appreciate your concern for me. I am glad to tell you that I am not apprehensive about the surgeryalthough I can feel the tightness of tension in my shoulders. I hope if you begin to feel worried that you will immediately pray--for me, for Pop, for harmony and peace among the children at home, for the doctor, the nurses--(you'll think of something), and trust that the Lord is absolutely in control.

I love you all.