Surgery

Grandpa got his left Salivary gland removed after years of it developing cysts and infection.  

He was all smiles before, but after not so much!  The Surgery that should have lasted 2-4 hours actually took 6, and that long under anesthesia was not good for dad.  He had a very hard time coming out of it and breathing regularly on his own.  I was to the point of tears at one point, when 4 hours after he should have been out of recovery, the nurses wouldn't let me see him and were running around saying he wasn't breathing and complaining about his heart. I tried to tell them that it was probably anxiety because of all the anesthesia and that I wanted to see him. After two hours (about midnight) the anesthesiologist finally came and said "I think he would do better if you were there." I went back and reassured him and he calmed down enough to get him to his room.  I stayed the night with him, and neither of us got much sleep between throwing up and monitors going off.  I was just so thankful to get him home!  He is pretty glum, which is understandable with the trauma he as endured and the side effects of mild nerve damage to his face, and loss of hearing in his ear.  We are prayerful that it will heal with time, and I am encouraging him to take it easy and take a few weeks off to recover!  

People from the ward have been texting and calling me for 3 days worried about him and expressing their love.  The neighbors even decorated his door with get well wishes.  Everyone he associates with can feel of his awesome spirit and can't help but love him...me included!