Shea's Surgery: Looks Good for 3 PM Today

It's 10:30 AM. I've just returned from the morning rounds.

Shea's temperature is still elevated, still around 101. But Dr. Narsinghani said several times, "I don't see any reason why she can't undergo surgery today. We feel the infection is localized, probably in the lungs or in the sinuses, and this poses very little risk to the surgical site."

So, in spite of what we heard last night, it looks like it's a go. Surgery will start around 3 PM and could go as late as 3 AM Saturday. So keep praying that Shea stays strong and the temp stays low.

Mrs. Hickok's Surgery at 6 PM Mountain Time
I just talked to Susan and she confirmed that Steve's mom's surgery is scheduled for tonight. They're going to be doing wrist surgery after her recent fall.

So we have two surgeries on the same day! We can double our prayers and ask God to bless the surgeons and the nurses and all who attend them today.

They Lit a Big Tree for Shea Last Night!

Last night, when we left the hospital, Susan and Jeanne and I saw a big commotion right in front of the hospital. All was set for the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree.

Santa Claus was there hugging the kids. The DJ from the local station was the emcee. Several hospital execs and local dignitaries gave speeches. I saw a reporter from the local paper taking notes on her steno pad. A camera crew was on duty and a white truck with a sattelite dish was parked nearby. And to top it off, the string orchestra from the high school was there. They even had a harp! They were all wearing those little red velvet Santa hats. They played a beautiful medley of holiday carols, ending with Silent Night. We stood there and sang along with the crowd.

One little boy from the children's hospital, who was being treated for leukemia, had been selected to flip the big switch. So, on cue from the DJ, we all counted down: 5-4-3-2-1-0 and suddenly the huge green tree was awash in light.

We know that this is an annual civic celebration. But last night we chose to believe that the whole town of Macon had turned out, with the orchestra and the DJ and all the dignitaries, and the reporter and the camera crew and Santa too--and that they'd put on this whole show outside our hospital all for our little Shea.

Thank you, Macon! We love you!


--Michael Anderson