Stan,
I will be holding good thoughts for you.  And will be anxiously awaiting
good news of a successful operation.  Your lighthearted spirit is
wonderful!

My best,

Claudia
53/2 mo/bunch of meds
[log in to unmask]
Stan R. Houston wrote:

> List Friends:
>
> UPDATE ON MY DATE WITH THE BRAIN SURGEON:
>
> Procedure: Bilateral Pallidotomy
> Status: "Go"
> Date: Friday, November 21, 1997
> Place: Herman Hospital, Houston, Texas
>
> RANDOM THOUGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS:
>
> I'll have brain surgery -- hold the catheters -- a large order of
> fries and
> an IV to go.
> My insurance company appproved the operation a week ago. Last
> Thursday, I
> received a letter from the same company informing me that ---
> according to
> their information --- there was no need for me to stay in the hospital
>
> overnight. God bless managed care.
>
> The brain, how strange, stays mainly out of pain.
> My doctor claims there will be no pain. For me, that may be true. For
> him, I
> guess we'll find out the first time I reach over my head, grab him by
> the
> throat and yell,"Get me outta here!"
>
> Programs! Programs! Ya can't tell who's cuttin' and who's bleedin'
> without a
> program!
> There will be at least 12 people in the OR during the operation:
> surgeons,
> regular-grade doctors, MRI technicians, an anesthesiologist (for my
> twenty-minute nap while they drill a small hole in my skull), nurses,
> my
> personal helper/hand-holder for the day, and a guy from the Astrodome
> selling
> popcorn, peanuts,Cokes and hot dogs.
>
> How To Entertain Yourself  While Someone Pokes Around In Your Brain
> I had been told that the actual operating-room time for a Pallidotomy
> was
> about three hours. Unfortunately, that applies to OTHER hospitals.
> Herman
> performs a version of the Pallidotomy that takes SIX HOURS in the OR!
> With
> me awake!  I've decided to take two novels, a portable CD player,
> Scrabble,
> Trivial Pursuit, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Newsweek, several comic
> books
> and my laptop computer. Maybe we can also have a pizza delivered.
>
> Where's the best place for a family reunion?
> Herman's Day Surgery Waiting Room is going to be busy while I'm
> partying with
> the surgeon. Scheduled to appear: My wife, who has to deliver me to
> the
> hospital by 5:30 am; my father and step-mother from Dallas; at least
> two of
> my wife's sisters from Fort Worth; my daughter and son-in-law from
> Dallas;
> and my son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren from Brownsville.
> Every
> person with Parkinson's should be so blessed.
>
> Thanks for all your support. Will keep you posted on any developments.
>
> Stan Houston (54/7)
> [log in to unmask]