Brain Surgery

Ed, momma, me, B2 and T all met at the hospital at the appointed time of 6:00 a.m.

They immediately took Ed to the back someplace and got him undressed and onto a gurney. He had to have his special MRI, one that makes 3-D images that the neurosurgeon uses to guide them in removing tumors.

Reverend Wayne Reed, the minister of my church, came to pray with Ed and us. Wayne told us later that Ed was in a good place spiritually, and that he didn't worry about Ed. He gave us comfort.

Before they took Ed back to get the MRI, we took turns going in to talk to him and offer words of comfort and encouragement. We couldn't help but cry because we were scared and concerned. We talked to him about his surgery and our confidence in his surgeon. I told him I felt good about the surgery, but if something did happen, I knew where he would go and where he would be. I reminded him that even though he was facing surgery alone, he wouldn't be alone, for God would be there with him. He nodded his agreement.

I've never seen my brother cry like he cried that morning. He, like me and Momma, hugged Ed and held on tight.

Dr. Walpert come in to speak with Ed before the surgery. She was not what I expected. She appeared to be in her late 40's or early 50's. She had short, blond, spiky hair. She wore makeup and lipstick. She had on a red dress, heals, a leopard skin print shawl and jewelry. I was rather taken back by her appearance. I asked her if she was going to change before surgery, because right now she didn't look like a brain surgeon. She chuckled and said yes.

The doctor reminded us that she was about to perform brain surgery, and it involved risks. Ed could come out of surgery with problems with memory and speech. She may or may not be able to remove all the tumor. It may or may not be cancer. She explained the incision she would make and that she would have to shave his hair in that area. She said he would be in surgery probably 3 or 4 hours.

They rolled him down the hall and told us he'd probably go straight into surgery after that. We saw him briefly after the MRI and then they wheeled him away once again and we were all relegated to waiting areas. Reverend Wayne said one last prayer with us and soon left. We were alone with our individual thoughts, worries, hopes, and prayers.

After a short time the waiting area came to life as more patients and their families arrived. We begin to hear other illness and surgery stories around us. We were all so sleepy, tired and hungry. No one wanted to eat breakfast in front of Ed since he couldn't have any food before surgery, but now our stomachs were complaining. We drank free coffee and nibbled on snacks and flipped through magazines. We traded places on chairs so the same person didn't always have to sit on the 'hard spot'. Off and on one or two of us dozed while the others kept vigil for the 'report lady'.

The 'report lady' was an older woman with a very sweet disposition and a ton of patience. She came out ever so often and gave all us waiters little tidbits of information. 'Your dad's first hour of surgery went well'. 'Your sister will be in recovery for about an hour'. We all looked up when she walked in the room, eager to hear her encouraging words.

By 11:00 or so, the 'report lady' came in and told us Ed was out of surgery. She said the doctor would meet with us shortly to give us a report on what she found. We were cautiously encouraged that he was out of surgery so soon. We automatically assumed that meant that things had gone well and that it must have just been a small, non-malignant tumor that was easily removed and was no big deal. But reflecting back now, I realize he was in surgery as long as she said he would be. It just seemed 'soon' because it wasn't even noon yet.

Another half hour or so went by and the 'report lady' ushered us down the hall to a 'family conference room'. This did not bode well. We saw other doctors talking to families in the hallway or even briefly in the waiting area. We didn't see anyone else being taken into a conference room. This was my first clue that we were excited and happy prematurely.

Me and Momma sat on one little sofa and B2 and T sat in arm chairs on either side of us. Dr. Walpert sat across from me and Momma. The look on her face was a bit unreadable. She was kind, but direct, when she delivered the blow.