SURGERY DAY!!

Sorry that I haven't updated sooner but this has been a rather busy morning. I know, odd isn't it? My previous surgical experience has been check in.. wait...go to the desk and ask for updates...wait...eat unhealthy snacks from vending because you don't want to leave the area... wait. Well, not at Cleveland Clinic. Granted, we did 'open the place up this morning' arriving at the registration desk at 5:15am est. Now, for those of you that know me well, you should be very, very impressed! We signed in and were given a digital pager. In a little while they called for mom and she went back to don her designer gown. Victoria's Secret I think... ok- that is not true, it was the usual gown with the plunging back look ;- o) We were all escorted back to the pre-op and got to hang out with her for a few minutes before they took her into the prep area. We had already been advised on a general schedule and knew that the prep would be 1-2 hours before surgery began so we decided to stake out our spot in the waiting area. We went and had breakfast while Jim sidetracked into Starbucks. Shortly after we returned from breakfast many of the family members pagers started going off all at once. I thought that was pretty unique. We realized that families of patients having similar surgeries were being escorted into a patient education seminar that was great. We received information about what to expect through the day but more importantly we were told what was happening in surgery, what some of the procedures were, when we could see Mom, what ICU was like, what to expect, etc. It was an open discussion and answered so many of our questions. We even were given Mom's ICU room assignment at that time. Cleveland Clinic has an open ICU meaning that there aren't separate rooms, and nurses station. There is one ICU nurse that is stationed between two patients beds and she is their nurse while in ICU. There are other attendants and ICU MD's in the unit at all times. It will be interesting to see. 
We received our first message that the 'first incision had been made' at 9:15(est) and that they began actually working on her heart at 11:49 (est). We, of course aren't sure how long it will take, but I will make updates as often as I can. I am actually sitting in a nice lounge area where a local college student is playing some beautiful classic pieces on a grand piano. It is very soothing. Later this week we may go up to the top floor where we can enjoy more music, have a massage or practice yoga.If dad does Yoga with me I will absolutely post photos!! HA. It is hard to believe that this is a not for profit-teaching hospital. We couldn't be more impressed.
Thank you for your many emails and words of encouragement. I would also like to especially thank those of you that have made donations to Mom and Dad's travel expense fund. Every little bit will help. They, of course, would never say so but you can only imagine how expensive this trip is for them, even with the family helping as much as we can.
I'll update again soon.. so far, so good!
Cheryl