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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]