Run Up to Surgery

October 1, 2004

I spoke with the surgeons yesterday afternoon. Here is the plan: Erin will have surgery to remove the mass on Monday at 12:45. The surgery will last at least 3 hours, but longer if they need to proceed more cautiously. The doctors expect to take out the mass along with the surrounding muscle and bony parts, and they think she will be home by the weekend, barring complications. Before they will let her leave the hospital, she will have to have her pain controlled orally and all her systems working on their own. I don't expect her to return to school immediately, but we will play that by ear based on how she is feeling.

I will take the laptop with me and post updates each day to let you know how things are going. As in the past, you can send e-greetings by clicking on the link in the header of this page. Volunteers deliver these each day, and Erin loves to plaster them all over her hospital room.

In the meantime, Erin plans on having as much fun as she possibly can before she goes to the hospital. Yesterday she went to school early for the Branch Jump Rope for Heart , stayed after school for UIL, went home with her buddy Tori for some play and relaxation, and ended the afternoon at the Texas A&M soccer clinic. Tonight her close friend, Ayeesha is coming into town. They are both spending the night with another friend, Abby. The Knights have a game tomorrow morning, and Abby has her birthday party tomorrow afternoon. We will top it off with church on Sunday and youth choir Sunday afternoon, before heading down to Houston.

Thanks for checking in on us!