Thank you soooo much! First of all, I really appreciated all the letters of prayer support and encouragement! It was especially interesting to hear how many of you have been through the kidney stone experience and the empathy I felt with you!
The surgery went well. Becky, being a nurse, was allowed to be right by the doctor as he did the procedure. It turns out he did his medical training in Indiana!
I was also thankful that Brazil beat the US in the finals of a major soccer cup competition on Sunday. It was a good position to be in–the “victorious” doctor being merciful to the poor “defeated” patient! 
The main anesthesia was a spinal block. What a strange sensation to not feel anything from the waist down for hours! I was also given IV medication and though I was always conscious, I suddenly heard the doctor say he was done when I was waiting for him to get started! This procedure has to be perfected for use when going to the dentist!
Lord willing, I will be released in the morning. We fly back to Santarem tomorrow night. I will have to go back in for minor surgery in a week to have the catheter (stent) removed that runs from the kidney to the bladder to help the drainage.
Please continue to pray for complete healing–especially against infection from the kidney being “backed up” for so long. The drainage, drinking lots of fluids, and the use of antibiotics should help prevent any problems.
Again, thanks for your prayers. I feel wonderful but am tired of sitting around in a hospital! We’re looking forward to getting home!
God bless you!
