The day started at 6:30 am when they rushed us to the pre-op room to get ready for surgery. We were the first ones there, but quickly got bumped from the queue because an emergency case was brought in. We ended up waiting three hours, and finally Ella was taken into surgery. All morning she had the most fantastic mood, playing around with toys we brought and interacting. Surgery lasted about two and a half hours, at the end of which Dr. Black reported it had gone just fine, no complications and no surprises (as we like it). Her recovery was very different than that of the hemispherectomy. Twenty minutes after surgery we were with her, she was awake, and seeming normal, just a bit groggy. There was no swelling and no visible changes except a band aid on her tummy and one on the back of her head (both ends of the tube). The pressure is going to be slowly reduced to a more normal level (turns out her level was 220 versus the normal 120). It will be done gradually to let the bone flaps slowly return to their location and connect, hopefully avoiding a situation where they overlap (whereas corrective surgery will have to be done). Hopefully no surprises or complications will arise and we will be able to go home with her on Saturday.