surgery. check.

We are so grateful for the thoughts and prayers sent our way today.  We have felt it and seen it in everything that has happened all day.  Shawnie is now resting comfortably in the ICU. (well, not really comfortably, she IS bossing us around though, so almost seeming her normal self...) Our care coordinator told us that the procedure was 6 to 8 hours, Dr. Santora told us yesterday that with Dr. D'Astous he could do it in 4 or 5, and today it took them just 3 hours.  Everything happened as perfectly as it could, and none of the horrific things that the anesthesiologist thought because of her 'condition' might happen, happened.  In his words, she was "phenomenal." She lost a liter of blood and had to have a significant transfusion, but the rods are in and the doctors felt like it worked beautifully and easily and she has an extremely straight back now.  I'm afraid she may be as tall as me... They were surprised to find that she was breathing strong on her own, her blood pressure stayed perfect, and her hematocrit count at the end was 40, which was amazing.  She came to ICU with the ventilator in, but only because she was so sleepy and she had to wake up before they could take it out.  The second she opened her eyes, she wanted it gone and they took it out.  She is still really sleepy and pretty sore, but we at least got a glimpse at her cheerful self for a bit this afternoon.  She will be on oxygen for another 30 minutes or so, and she has a big IV in her neck and two in her hand (but don't worry, friends, it's not her texting hand!!) and because she is doing so miraculously well, she will probably leave ICU tomorrow morning.  I don't even know what to say but thank you.  Thank you so much for the fasting and prayers and thoughts that came her way today.  My emotions are pretty close to overflowing because of the genuine love and support and spirit that she has felt from so many special people in her life.  Please continue to pray for her.  She recognizes and is grateful for the difference it makes.