Sorry peeps. I just haven't posted much about what has been going on. and I should have. I mean, it's nothing exciting just haven't told you. As some of you know.. Mary Hogan was here for a visit before her surgery. She came on Saturday and left on Tuesday. What a BLAST! Saturday we went and visited with Dawn and Don of Hooked on Fuzzies Shelter in Tucson. We had a great time there. Mary got to play with just about all of the ferrets and sit and chat with Dawn some when the ferrets would let her :-) . Saturday night Shawn made a wonderful dinner when we got home. And Mary got to meet all of our critters! Sunday Mary and I went sight-seeing. We went to Coronado National Park and took in the views, and then onto Bisbee to drive around. I even got to show her the outside of the church I will be married in. Then we headed to Tombstone where we did some shopping. Mary bought me some wonderful charms to go on the beautiful charm bracelet that she brought for me (and she came me some off of hers). Then we met up with Chris and went to Wal-Mart and then to Safeway so I could buy stuff for dinner (yes, I was cooking!). We didn't get home that day until 8 pm! Monday I came to work and Shawn got to stay and visit with Mary. They went out shopping (again). We had pizza for dinner and stayed in playing with ferrets all night. Tuesday we had to take her to the airport.. I really wanted to keep her! And she really wanted to take Christi (one of the adoptables!). Saying "c-ya" was hard. I just didn't want to let her leave.. On the way to the airport she gave me yet another wonderful gift. it was a glass heart that had Daughter written on it. She made me cry. though I think I did ok hiding it cause if I didn't I feared she wouldn't go to CA. So, she is now in CA with her brother (other one coming in soon). They are running tests to make sure that surgery is still a go. So far everything is turning out good. Her heart is working just fine. They were worried that the stress of having to work hard might have damaged it. it didn't. Her lungs.. Well that is where the blood clots are mainly. Her left lung only the top part showed up on one of the tests. So she must have a lot of blockage in there. She sees the doctor today and they will discuss in more detail the tests, the operation and concerns they may have. I just want you all to know just what she is facing.. For the surgery to remove the blood clots which have formed into scar tissue right near her heart and in her lungs. they will have to go in through her front and open the rib cage. Then they will have to put her on a heart and lung bypass machine. Because they need to work in a dry environment (no blood), they will have to stop the machine which is keeping her alive - up to 20 minutes each time. Then restart it again when either they are done or 20 minutes comes. She is having the surgery done in San Diego because they are THE BEST hospital for this surgery. There are only 3 hospitals that specialize in this. and they are #1. If everything goes well (which it will) her chances are excellent. of course. being "dead" for 20 minutes at a time isn't a nice thing to think about and is pretty scary.. Her surgery is scheduled for December 7th at 6 am. Pet is at home watching all the animals while Mary is away. Would you send a card to her? She said with ferret stickers or something on the outside of the envelope would be wonderful since she is in CA! LOL What a girl! SO. everyone up to sending cards to our wonderful Mary who helps out with foster and sick kids???????? Cards will help her so much! She will be in the hospital from Dec 7th until around the 16th. Here's the address: UCSD Thornton Hospital Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine 9300 Campus Point Drive, M/C 7381 La Jolla, CA 92037 I will try to keep everyone posted on how she is doing when I know more. Joanne Ruffner Ferret Corner Shelter www.geocities.com/ferretcorneraz [Posted in FML issue 4715]