Skin graft surgery went well.

Just after arriving from Saipan, late this afternoon, John drove me straight to UAMS but Mom was still in pre-op. and it was a few hours before I could see her in the recovery room. I was so amazed to see how alert and optimistic she looked, since I had only been able to talk to her by telephone 2 days ago, and even though she'd just woken up from skin graft surgery on her left arm 30 minutes earlier, she asserted amazing energy, even lifting both arms and shoulders trying to hug me! She bubbled over with much to say about everything that's been happening, and was so overstimulated that we soon had to leave the recovery room because it was raising her blood pressure. I thanked mom for never giving up without a fight! She smiled so radiantly and appreciatively. We met her upstairs in her room about a half hour later. She was so thirsty, once again, because they just couldn't give her more than a few ice chips before and after surgery so as not to upset her tummy. She will be so grateful for an oasis in the dry, arid desert of thirst that she must endure. She asked for sweet, cold, icy drinks!

It was so hard to leave her side, but I want to be useful to her tomorrow, and since I have barely slept in about 32 hours since departing Saipan, I had to let John drive me to the house for a little rest tonight.

The skin graft went very well. Dr. Yuen, the plastic surgeon, took a patch of skin from her thigh for repairing the damaged skin of her left forearm. She will be observed about a week to make sure it takes well and healthy new growth of skin resumes as expected. He said that once about 80% of the graft is working, the rest will soon follow. The skin graft is covered with a spongy bandage and covered in plastic "shrink wrap" connected by a tube to a vacuum device which will assist the healing process. Fortunately, the irritating respirator was removed immediately following the surgery. It is such a relief that her breathing is doing so well, and also that she will be able to stand and move around a bit when needed. The recuperation will take a lot of patience as her body tries to catch up with her mental fitness. We also spoke to Dr. Ahmed, who had done the surgery on her neck who said she must also wear the neck brace to avoid moving her neck for 8 to 12 weeks. She may take it off while resting, but it seems risky because of her desire to animate her speech with so many jestures. She really wants to see and partake in everything around her as much as she can and the brace limits her peripheral vision. We think the pain medication leads her to believe she can do more than she's ready for!

Good night, Mom. It's so great to be here with you and kiss your smiling face and hold your hand. Love, Mindy

Thank you to all of the people who have sent such nice flowers, gifts and cards for my mom. They are all around her room and at the house and in the refrigerator, and I will gradually get to help her read and view them all this week, now that she's out of her amnesia. She is so thankful for all the prayers and kindness.