Success!

Dear Friends:
We're praising God tonight for gifting the surgeons with great skill. Everything they hoped for - and more - was accomplished today in surgery.
Gerry arrived at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. and went into surgery promptly at 8 a.m. By 5:30 p.m, two neurosurgeons, assisted by a nerve monitoring team from Oregon Health Sciences University, had removed an estimated 98 percent of a golf ball-sized brain tumor that has been impacting Gerry's daily life for more than a decade.
The pieces of tumor that remain are located along the facial nerve and in the canal. Once Gerry has recovered from surgery, the doctors intend to treat those pieces with radiation.
We prayed that God would protect Gerry from facial paralysis - one of the risks of the surgery. Today, at the end of the procedure, surgeons stimulated Gerry's facial nerves and found that they responded. The nerves were weakened during the surgery, but doctors expect that they'll return to full strength as he recovers.
We were able to see Gerry at around 8 p.m. this evening. The long procedure left him disoriented, but even with slurred speech, he exhibited his trademark wit.
He also spoke of the things that weighed on his heart in the days leading up to the surgery. Even through a cloud of anesthesia, it was clear that it is not the things of this world that he values most.
"I just want to be a hero for God," he said.
Gerry was taken to the Intensive Care Unit after the surgery (a standard practice), and doctors say he'll remain there for the next three days.
After that, he'll be transferred to another floor, where he'll continue to recovery for several more days.
Gerry is heavily medicated right now, and is being monitored closely by hospital staff.
We're not sure when he'll be ready to receive visitors, but we know he'll be thrilled to see the friends and family members who have supported him during this time.
In the meantime, please pray that Gerry's facial nerves will recover as the doctors expect they will, and that Gerry will experience minimal pain.
Thank you for your prayers and support. We will continue to update you as Gerry continues his recovery.

- The Schaffner Family