I told God: 'I give my head to You'

As Ana Maria was getting prepped for surgery, she told us that when she found out she was going to have to have brain surgery she told God 'My head is yours. I give it to You.' And then after we finished telling her that she's got one of the greatest teams of doctors in America operating on her she pointed up and said 'I've got the best doctors in the world operating on me. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and ALL the angels.' Oh to have faith like hers...

Ana Maria right before surgery

She was very nervous this morning - but there was also a peace about her and we all know where that comes from. We are blessed to be at St. Francis, which is a faith-based place. The OR nurse, Pat, is a very sweet lady and was anxious to pray with us. All of the doctors were so kind.
One of my closest and oldest friends and big brother in the Lord, Shay (who is a priest) came by and prayed for her. Shay has been with me to the DR a couple times and is a friendly and familiar face to Ana Maria.
Owaldy (Ana Maria's oldest son) is here and has been a brave and supportive young man. When Ana Maria was rolled back to surgery and we went to take our place in the waiting room, he said 'maybe after today, I will be able to sleep.' Yes, Owaldy. I pray that for you and for your family...that today will be the beginning of much brighter and lighter days for all of you.

mother and son

Then there's Christy and Gerry. These two...saints. Or angels. Or both. I don't know. All I know is we wouldn't be here in this waiting room if it weren't for them. Christy and Gerry have taken Ana Maria into their home and into their hearts (which is the easy part). More than that, they have been CHAMPIONS in getting this process rolling. Seriously, the 3 months that she was granted on her visa may have come and gone and no surgery would have happened had God not given Christy and Gerry to us and to this process. I have no adequate ways to express my gratitude to them...they are heroes. Please pray for them - that God would pour back into them more than what they have poured out. 

So...we continue to wait. There's this cool computer screen in the lobby that shows the progress of all the patients who are in surgery right now. I snapped this shot as Ana Maria's surgery officially began a little while ago: (sorry for the blurriness - I had to crop out all the other docs and patients - wouldn't want to violate any HIPA laws) :)

The little person at the end means the surgery has started (b/c the little cartoon person is asleep). At the end of the surgery, the cartoon person will be awake and smiling and that will mean that she is headed into recovery. I can't wait to see that little icon pop up.
So, one major prayer request: the doctor told us that because of where the tumor is located, they probably would not be able to get the whole thing out and that once she recovers, she will need radiation therapy. This isn't altogether bad but we would prefer that they are able to remove it ALL today. SO - pray for that! If they can't remove it all - our next challenge will be extending her visa. She cannot begin radiation until she is completely recovered from todays surgery - which could be 5-7 weeks from now. Then, she would need 4-6 weeks of radiation. That puts us at the end of August for a return to the DR and her visa expires July 22. We feel confident that with official documentation from the doctors and the hospital that it shouldn't be hard getting it extended but please add that to your prayers.
Well...that's it for now. Oh, breakfast in the cafeteria at St. Francis is gooooooood.
Stay tuned......