Surgery Day

8/12/2014
ok, i will just be giving the gist of everything for Patti and not all the extras...so don't kill the messenger.
We were at St Lukes Community Hospital at 5:30am for registration.  Linda (Mimi) & John (Papa) stayed the night and are at the house with the kids and Max. Patti was taken back to pre-op around 6:30am and after she was dressed and given her IV, we both were taken downstairs for Patti to get some shots in her Left Breast.  I can't remember what they were called, but this medicine is supposed to travel to the lymph nodes so they can be checked during the surgical operation with a Geigercounter (that is correct, a Geigercounter). We went back upstairs to the pre-op area and Patti was then taken back to the OR at 7:30 am.  Chris and Kristi Herring showed up this am with some breakfast food and drinks and mostly to give their support.  I told them they didn't have to stay, but I learned a while back from Chris that I shouldn't argue with Kristi!!  Thanks Guys!  The operation started at 8:18 am and we were given notification by one of the nurses at 9:15 am that everything was going fine.  Around 10:00 am we were notified that the Left Breast tissue was removed and they were beginning to start on the Right Breast. Denny (Patti's mom) and I were taken back to the consultation room at 11:45 am to meet with Dr Fitzsullivan, her part of the operation was over. Dr Fitzsullivan said Patti was doing fine and the lymph nodes were negative upon initial evaluation...Yeh!!  Thanks you all so much for all your prayers!! The lymph nodes and breast tissue will be reevaluated more extensively this week and we should know more upon Patti's Dr visit next week, but Dr Fitzsullivan said there is less than 5% chance of a positive reading after the initial negative reading during the operation.  These evaluations will determine what further treatment Patti will need...Chemo and/or radiation.  Heather Burke (HB) and her herd came and brought us lunch and additional support...Thanks HB!  Dr Gordley is now implanting the "spacers", but due to loss of tissue and the size of the area he has to work with, he may not inject any saline for the moment.  Again, thank y'all for the prayers and if it's not too much to ask...keep praying, i know Patti can feel the overwhelming support through your prayers.  Rob