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Surgery

Yesterday was surgery day. 

There was much stress and anxiety leading up to it. Honestly, for me, the most stress was in preparing to leave and much of that was alleviated once we got the kiddos sent of with Grandma and left the house ourselves. 

We left Wednesday night and stayed that evening with Sid's mission president. It was a really good night due to our time in the temple and chatting with them. 

We had a very early start to our day. Check in at the hospital was at 6:00. Surgery time officially started at 8:27 and I received the last text update at 4:41 saying it was done. If you include when they started the sedation process which started around 7:30, it was a 9 hour long procedure. What a work day for the medical staff! 

When we got to the hospital, I felt a sense of anticipation, but I don't remember feeling scared or even nervous. As soon as I left the prep room and he started being wheeled back I just felt peace. 

I know so many were praying; praying for a successful surgery, praying for the staff, and praying for comfort for us. It was overwhelmingly obvious that those prayers were answered with a resounding yes.

When Dr. Contreras came out to the waiting room he had a big smile on. He told me that the surgery went as well as he could possibly hope for! Sid was stable throughout the procedure and they felt very happy about the results of the surgery. I could hardly express my gratitude to him as we finished talking. How do you adequately thank someone for working through a giant surgery that required years of practice and sacrifice to prepare for and produced a successful, life changing surgery? 

As of this morning, Sid is feeling mostly good and everything continues to look healthy! The doctors want him up and moving today. He's in the ICU while they wait for his body to fully revive from the sedatives of surgery. Once his intestines wake up they can remove the NG tube that is down his throat that's removing his stomach acid that can't quite progress through the system yet. Overall he looks and feels good - all things considered. Man, I love this guy. He is taking this all like a champ! 

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27

Truly the peace I have experienced feels Divine. Nothing in this world could have instilled such tangible calm and happiness in my heart and mind. 

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