April 4 and 5

Bernard's MRI on Monday was completely normal, and he does indeed have a brain. :) No tumors, no strokes, no MS. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We met today with Dr. Alan Johnson of Asheville Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. As far as heart surgeries go, this is the easiest, most simple kind. That is good. His surgery will start around 11 and he should be finished around 2 and in an ICU room around 3. The actual surgery on the heart only takes about 15 minutes. The rest of it is getting Bernard to sleep and prepped for the surgery (I'll spare you the details, yuck. I'm so glad God didn't call me into medicine). He will be in ICU over night, then a regular room for 2 or 3 days, then home to recuperate for a couple of weeks. The most difficult part (according to Dr. Johnson and all other open heart patients I've talked to) is waiting for the sternum and ribs to heal. Apparently, that is a pretty painful little mess in there. Bernard is ready to do this and amazingly calm. I am to, on the outside.

So, Monday we go to Mission Hospital for pre-OP, Tuesday is a lovely day spent at Asheville Cardiology doing a catheterization, and Wednesday, bright and early, we will go to the hospital for the big day.

Thanks for remembering us, and I'll keep you updated as we go.

Oh yea, some have asked for specific ways to pray. Obviously, as God leads is cool, too.

1. Travis and Kristi to not be too completely whigged out by the whole thing. We are explaining bits and pieces to Trav, and Kristi is happily oblivious to the whole thing, for now.
2. The doctors. I know some of Bernard's docs are Christians, but I do not know about all of them. My prayer is that something we do or say or are plants a seed or waters a seed that has been planted.
3. That Bernard wake up from the surgery. :)
4. A quick and speedy recovery.

In Him,
Karma