Her surgery lasted about 3 hours, as opposed to 6 hours the first time. They opened her back to view her entire spine with the intent of replacing the rods that go from top to bottom of her back, but the rods have become encased in good bone growth. Replacement would have done more damage than potential good, so they left those rods in place. They cleaned the areas that did not grow bone sufficiently and took bone for grafts from other areas of her spine. The original plan was to take the bone grafts from her hip, but that extra incision was not needed since some areas of her spine had extra bone.

    All of that is awesome news. The surgery was necessary for proper healing, but the extent was minimal (if you can call a 18" incision and exposure of the entire spinal column minimal). She has just been brought directly from Recovery to her PCU room where we can be with her. Immediate placement in PCU is a blessing because last time she spent 3 days in ICU before being released to PCU. To say she looks good would be stretching things - she is very puffy looking but does have pretty good skin tone. She has been awake briefly and responded to stimulia of her legs/feet, so the nerves are doing ok. She is sleeping now. We are very thankful for today's outcome.

    Her recuperation is expected to be a bit quicker than the last time also. Before she needed 6 months to be released for travel to Honduras - this time it has been estimated to be 3 months. We trust the political situation in Honduras will have settled down by then.

    Thanks for your prayers! Please continue to pray for God's continuing faithful provison of the various needs and Grace's recuperation and proper healing. To God be the glory - great things He has done, AND is still doing!

                                                  Mike & Martha Rudd