Note: Tom heals fast and will probably only have to deal with caffeinelessness for a couple weeks. I know he'll start sneaking in decaf before that ('tho he loathes it -- better than no caf).

We called the hospital this morning and they sent a ride this morning. They do that if you have surgery or an appointment, but the shuttle was discontinued in October. I had to take a cab when I left -- and to go back tomorrow. His surgery was scheduled for 3, but he got in about 1:30. He was really, really hungry by then... (Curmudgery level very high.)

Anywho, talked to Dr. Zeitels after the surgery at 4:10 -- Dr. Z was very very pleased, and, I suppose Tom will be when he gets through the post op lung/throat/swallowing hassles. I think when I finally got to see him in the PACU around 5:30-ish with a thing strapped around his nose and a suction dealie pulling crap out of his mouth what he was mostly curmudgeoning about was that he couldn't easily talk to me about the procedure. He did say it was "fascinating" and he had a lot to tell me.

Oh, yes, Dr. Z said this probably isn't the end of the treatment. I asked about voice therapy and he said Tom will figure out how to make the flap work with his existing vocal cord. This procedure, by the way, was technically a laryngoplasty -- "moving" part of the larynx. It will give him more volume because it closes the gap where the right vocal cord used to be. But there will probably be more tweaking.

Tom said that Dr. Z told him not to worry, if this doesn't work, he has about 30 more tricks up his sleeve.

We had thought we could possibly come home on Monday, but it's now definitely Wednesday -- Dr. Z has promised the first appointment of the day so we can make the 11 am train home. (If we miss that, we have to wait til 5 pm; sigh.)

My knee has definitely had too many miles put on it today, despite the fact they didn't sent me from Wang 309 to the Gray Waiting Room across the veritable city of Mass General and then back (because Dr. Z. ALWAYS sees people at Wang 309). It was enough of a hike to Ellison and the PACU (not to mention lunch down at Eat Street -- me schlepping a bag with my purse, reading material, medical notebook & other necessities of life, and a jacket and a cane. Ach!).

When the cab dropped me off, I went right across the street to a little liquor store/convenience food establishment and bought a well-deserved bottle of wine. That and last night's left over pizza (and a couple bars of CHOCOLATE!!!!) will be dinner tonight, but I ate late and have no idea when the food part of that equation will happen.

I'm tired. I almost nodded off over Ian Fleming's "Live and Let Die" in the waiting room.

Thanks for all the white light, healing thoughts, prayers and good wishes. We really appreciate it!

Linn