March 19th 2015

It is 6am and we are getting ready to go the Grady Hospital for Christopher's surgery. We are schedule to be there at 8:30am for  early start. Dr. Carney has meetings at Emory first thing so he usually doesn't start surgery until 9:30.

Christopher and I are on I75 headed south bound singing along with the XM classic vinyl station. Well I am singing, anybody who knows Christopher knows he's always gone the Milli Vanilli route. It is pouring down rain, I75 is bumper to bumper, morning rush hour. It is a quarter to 7, we're moving, we have been lucky so far.

Surprisingly, we have made it to the hospital in about an hour. We have checked in, so now we wait. Debbie and Locky are meeting us here, they should be on their way by now.

It is now 9:40 and we are still in the waiting area, Debbie still hasn't made it in yet. Oh, here comes our nurse to take us to Pre-op. Christopher is all smiles, he is ready to get this over with. All prepped and ready to go, we were given wipes to use to eliminate any bacteria that might be on his body. We had to swab his mouth, brush his teeth and use iodine swabs in his nostrils. No parts untouched, he is now clean from head to toe.

Checking out the smooth shave

Debbie and Locky finally arrived, I was beginning to worry. Still waiting, it is now 11:30, Dr. Carney came by said they have changed the order and he is going to do a shorter procedure ahead of Christopher. So we have a little longer before he goes back.

A little longer has gotten to be a lot longer, it is now 3:30 and still waiting. It has taken its toll on me. Checkout sleeping beauty courtesy of my lovely wife.

Looking like my dad more and more, not a bad thing he was a good looking man

It is now 4:30pm and they are getting ready to take him back. WOW! We had been told the surgery would only take 3-4 hours, not really trusting the estimates, they haven't been too accurate so far. We are going down to the Sweet Auburn Market to get something to eat. Hope there is still something open.

It's now 6pm belly full so I'm heading home to check on Davis and the dogs, Davis has a lacrosse game against Milton tonight. He still isn't able to play, he is really bummed. Lassiter hasn't beaten Milton in a couple of years, always close, hopefully they can pull this one out.

I've made it back to Grady still wet outside, huge wreck on the 285 ramp off of I75 south. Christopher is still in the OR the nurse called out to let me know they have another hour or two, everything is going well 8:25pm. Debbie is sitting the surgical waiting room with one other person a young girl whose boyfriend is having the similar procedure to what Davis had done last Saturday.

It is now 10:40pm the nurse called and said everything is going well but is has been more difficult than he expected. Looking at another hour or so, keep those prayers coming. Davis just arrived, Lassiter beat Milton 13-7, first time for Coach Leezer, congratulations Trojans.

I have been studying for my medication exam which is tomorrow morning at 8am. Just got the call, they are extubating Christopher and he should be in the recovery room in a few minutes, Dr. Carney will be out to speak with us in a few minutes, it's 11:35pm.

Dr. Carney just came through the door, 12:22am, he looks like he's been through the ringer. According to him everything is perfect, Christopher is great, he did very well. The scar tissue was more extensive then he thought at first and that is why it took so long. He was very pleased with the results, Christopher's bladder looked great, he is amazed it has tolerated having the supra-pubic catheter this long.

We are now finally getting to go in to see Christopher in the recovery room, Debbie has gone in, only allowed one at a time. It is my turn now, he looks puffy, understandably he has been laying with his feet above his head for the past seven hours. He is still zonked, but he is still going for the hug, that's my boy. Davis and I are heading home it's a quarter to two and we still have to drive home.

Your continued thoughts and prayers a greatly appreciated.