Erin Hope came through her 10 hour surgery very well yesterday. The doctors are very pleased at how well she did. They removed the right lobe of her liver, a small tumor-like mass on her right lung and had to remove part of her vena cava (large blood vessel going back to the heart) and cut a piece of her heart muscle out. The doctor replaced and reconstructed this with the lining of a cow's heart. If all goes well with this reconstruction, she will not have to have another surgery later to replace it.

She looked really well early this morning when we first got to see her. Now at 2:00 pm she is much more "puffy" looking from the shift in fluid inside her body. This is a result from her kidneys not working as well as normal. The doctors say that this is a normal response after a major, or should I say, 3 major surgeries at once and she should be looking better by tomorrow. It is hard for us to see her this way. She is still on the ventilator that helps her breathe. She is doing some breathing on her own. She doesn't, and has nodded her head to the fact, that she is not in any pain. They are keeping her well medicated at this time. She has been mouthing words to us and moving her arms and legs. Praise God!

Please pray that her kidneys will continue to function more toward normal and this fluid excess will come down. We are very pleased at how well the surgery went yesterday and of the care that she is receiving. 

Thanks so much for your continued prayers and God bless you!