(My letter to several friends after arriving home from the ER, the night we found out about the tumor.)

Thanks for all your prayer and support tonight.  I can't believe that it was just last Thu. that I came to the restaurant with the news that Gary was going in for a lot of tests.  This was the least imaginable news...
> 
> We won't be going to MD Anderson after all.  The tumor, though malignant, is encapsulated.  They will cut a square at the back of his neck to where the brain stem is located.  Removal should be fairly easy. As long as there are no pieces attached to any of his nerves, there won't be any need for radiation or chemo.  Gary prefers to stay here and there is nothing about this particular type of tumor that is complicated, so MD Anderson was overkill.
> 
> He will check into the hospital tomorrow and have a full spinal MRI to make sure that none of the tumor has, I believe the Dr. said "dripped" into the spinal column.  That would be a complication! Then the surgery will be Friday morning.  If all goes well, he'll be home in 5-7 days and back to work in 4 weeks.
> 
> Amy and Alyssa are devastated.  I can't even get hold of Amy at this point, but I told her to go home (she was at Graham's when I called her) and get lots of sleep, in case we had to head out early to Houston.  You don't suppose she followed my instructions???  I wanted Gary to tell Alyssa himself and not get the news from me, to remind her that he looks and feels fine.  She cried more than I've ever seen her cry.
> 
> I am doing okay, except for the whole sleeping thing, as you can tell.  I'm always great during the crisis and then fall apart afterward.  I've been randomly crying at weird moments.  I went to the Dr today and have an upper respiratory and sinus infection.  Thank goodness I will have been on my antibiotic for 24 hours before the surgery or they might not let me near Gary.  My parents are coming tomorrow.  I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.  My dad cries so easily and crying is so infectious.
> 
> I'm just randomly writing now.  You can stop reading anytime:).  I need a blog like Alyssa....
> 
> Funny story...I had to call Kristin and ask her what the heck to do if the neurosurgeon wanted to admit Gary immediately and do the surgery, because we don't have a will.  Yes, two super responsible 50+ adults (with 102 years of experience between us) have never written out a will.  The fear was that Texas might have a law that the money be divided between the spouse and kids.  Can't let the girls have the money at this point. They're just too young to be put in that position.  Kristin was so sweet, looked some things up for us and sent us some papers.  I feel like an idiot:/.
> 
> Well, I'm going to try to sleep for a bit.
> I'll keep in touch...
> Love,
> Kay