Time

Well, the first surgery is officially over. We were updated around 5:30 that things were going well but that the doctors were still working to separate the facial nerves from the fatty tissue. Dr. O updated us around 7:15 p.m. that surgery was over and that everything went great and that it took longer due to the scar tissue from her first reduction surgery in 2009.

Plans changed with the approach to today's surgery as well. Originally we were told that she would have an incision that would run along her bottom eye lid and along the side of her nose but Dr. Waner and Dr. O decided the incision by her ear would accomplish more. She has an incision starting slightly above her ear and basically follows her jawline. They worked to dissect the facial nerves from the fatty tissue and because of the scar tissue it was much more work. Dr. Waner described it like trying to pull cotton strands from cement and keeping them intact. He said that she is pretty much "normal" from the ear forward to the cheek bone (so basically no more tumor in that area). He gave us another bit of good news in that he thinks he can accomplish what he wants with one more surgery. That was music to our ears! I'm a little skeptical just because things have changed so many times but I'm hopeful! In the next surgery he will work to remove the tumor from the little area around the apple of her cheek down to the lips and inside her mouth (so basically the front of her face).

Josie's cheek looks so different already. He warned us that it would look "caved in" when we saw her because so much was removed (he also said that it wouldn't stay that way). She has a drain tube attached to her which I guess we're going to have to care for and drain. I don't think that it will bother me to drain it but I worry about going home with it. Hopefully its out before we leave.

Josie is resting peacefully now, I suppose I should try to rest, too. Thank you so much to all those that have prayed for us and supported us. We are so far from home but we've felt the love.