Steph was able to remain stable enough to proceed with the surgery today and he was among the first on the OR docket.  The surgeon decided to remove the nephrostomy tube in his back and proceed with the insertion of a stent in his ureter to prevent it from swelling and collapsing after the removal of the nefarious stone.  This stent will be removed in a relatively simple process in about ten days.  The surgeon also blasted and evacuated bladder stones and debris during the time Steph was under anesthesia.  We've been told that everything went text-book well in the OR.  Amazingly, instead of taking two hours in the recovery room as predicted, he was all warmed up and ready to return to his room within half an hour.  He was already back to himself in his hospital room by about 12:45 this afternoon, much to my pleasant surprise.  Another bit of good news... it looks like Steph can go home tomorrow after being prescribed oral antibiotics instead of IV.  He can't wait to get home to get some genuine rest and to feel more comfortable in his surroundings after being on isolation since his arrival at the hospital.

Thank you all for your prayers, kind thought and words, and support.  You are a treasured part of our journey!  This experience surely represented a shake-up for us, but also presented learning opportunities in terms of early intervention and strong advocacy that will be put to use in the future.