Cathy made it through a very successful surgery!  We were expecting a four hour surgery, but after just a little over an hour my pager vibrated. Christ Hospital surgery pages waiting families much the same way a hostess at a restaurant would call waiting patrons to their tables.  They even use the same kind of dual purpose pager-coaster. If it wasn't so early in the morning I might have wished I had a pint to set on my pager-coaster.

Dr. Manders told me that Cathy's surgery went very well and that her tissue looked very good - no visible signs of cancer elsewhere. Much like the biopsy, the pathology report on the removed tissue will tell the full story. Dr. Manders said that Dr. Butterfield had already begun her work and that they had worked side by side for a while.

After leaving the consult room I made some phone calls and texts. I returned to the waiting area and after reading only a few paragraphs of a book the pager rang again. Dr. Butterfield finished in just over two hours total surgery time. Dr. Butterfield expressed cautious optimism. She said that Cathy's tissue was in great shape, but with neoadjuvant chemotherapy she never feels completely at ease until after three or four weeks. At that time she will know how well the tissue has healed. Up to that point it is difficult to tell how that tissue will respond in terms of circulation and infection defense.

Cathy is in a room with a nice view of the winding Ohio river and some trees clinging to their fall colors. She has some pain in her chest, but is doing well otherwise. Her pain is at its greatest when she takes a deep breath.  She is speaking coherently, although quietly.  Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes!