We're Back...

Dad has finally been taken back to surgery.  He will be having a pyloric preserving Whipple procedure.  We expect it to be about 7 hours long.  That is a lot of dream hiking for Dad.  The surgeon, Dr. Traverso, loved talking with Dad about hiking on King Hill.  He is an amazing surgeon and we feel so blessed that he will be doing the procedure.  He is humble and wont brag, but we hear that he is one of the top surgeons for this procedure in the nation.  Dr. Hise, the Anesthesiologist  shares his birthday with him.  We consider it a great omen.  He was given a thoracic epidural.  They shooed Mom and I out of the room and would not let us watch.  (Which was probably a good thing, I would be embarrassed seeing how tough he is....some of his daughters scream like little girls!)  He was wheeled back for surgery at about 7:59.  Mom and I are here waiting for the first hourly update from the nurse.