Surgery Day

Mary Jo pre op

Mary Jo is recovering in room E3162 at the Abbott's Virginia Piper Hospital after a robotically assisted DaVinci hysterectomy. The actual surgery started at 7:49am this morning. Jon and Laura (and baby Campbell) Holmes came to the hospital this morning to offer their support during the procedure. Campbell kept the surgery waiting room entertained until she told her parents that she had had enough and it was time to go. I was briefed by Mary Jo's surgeon, Dr Catherine Casey just after the procedure concluded at 10:04am, Dr Casey explained that “everything went as expected and that no cancer was detected" by the initial lab work (sections) on the removed tissues.

I would like to thank all of our many guests that came to the hospital to offer their support to Mary Jo and I both during and after the surgery. Jon, Laura and Campbel Holmes, Diane Noldin, Del Burns, Michelle Doyle, John and Teresa Kuehne and Jamie Page.

Jon, Laura and Campbell Holmes

Jamie Page and MJ

Mary Jo is doing very well this evening and the hospital staff appears to have her pain management well under control. We are hopeful that Mary Jo will get a good night’s sleep and be able to go home tomorrow.

Sisters (MJ and Teresa) sporting their hospital fashions

Mary Jo's sister Teresa was released today from the same Virginia Piper Hospital after her double n.s. mastectomy surgery performed on Tuesday. Teresa looks great today. She says that she is in some pain but otherwise doing well. Teresa and her husband John were able to see Mary Jo just prior to Teresa being released to go home this afternoon. The sisters were actually in the same hospital, same floor for a brief time today. The youngest sister Michelle will be back next week for her prophylactic hysterectomy and prophylactic double mastectomy. Michelle’s surgeries will be performed at Abbott by the same surgeons that performed both of Teresa’s procedures.

Mary Jo taking a walk hours after her surgery.

Watch the new "Mary Jo Beating Cancer 2010" You Tube video here.