They call it Stage 1

She made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Surgery was very quick.  She was in the operating room only about 45 minutes.  The surgeon said she did really well and the surgery was picture-perfect.  Saw her in recovery and she was awake and talking!  The representative from the makers of the implant unit was there and I got to see her hook the leads up to the sending unit.  Then she hooked the receiver unit to the programming unit - which looked like one of the portable scanners they use at Sam's or Walmart when the item is too heavy to get out of the basket.  She turned each side on and programmed them to a level that was bearable for Vanessa.  (OK, sooooo you know there has to be a side story, because Vanessa and I can NEVER go anywhere without a side story. . . here goes.  In the bed beside of her there was a fellow who was shot last night by an 'unknown perputrator'!  He kept saying he is a chocolate-covered bullet because they did surgery to get it out and decided to leave it in him.  He was shot in the stomach and the detectives were questioning him and trying to figure out who did the shooting.  It appears he 'manages' 2 women.  We did not hear what about them he manages.  From what we could overhear - cause you know we were listening. . . he was in his 'girlfriend's' car going to see another girl that was in the hospital. (Every woman reading this right now is saying, "Yeah right.")  He was freaking out because he figured his 'girlfriend' was going to kill him for getting blood in her car and she has a gun and she would use it, but it wasn't her that shot him. He was not aware of anyone that 'had a beef' with him.  He also appears to have loads of friends but knows them by first name only. . . with the exception of his cousin's cousin  - Sha-nae-nae Wilson.  By this time my back was beginning to hurt from craning back so hard because he was starting to mumble due to the morphine. Seriously, couldn't they have held off on the drugs for a few minutes?)  Back to Vanessa. . . . they were amazed how well she handles pain and how much medicine it took to knock her out. The nurses were awestruck that her lipstick stayed on during the entire surgery.  She is 'not at all pleased' that they shaved wwaaaayyyy more hair than promised, but if it works she will forgive them.  At this point everything is too swollen and aggravated to know if the pain has lessened any.  They say the swelling in her brain should go down in about 48 hours.  She was discharged a couple of hours after the surgery and I took her back to 'the house.'  She took a good long nap and then got up and ate some supper.  There is a new Chiari patient in the house today so they compared a few notes and surgery stories before she was worn out.  She's tucked safely in bed now and we're hoping for a peaceful night and sleeping in tomorrow morning.  Thank you each and every one for your prayers and good thoughts.  They are felt and appreciated.