He's done! The surgeon had only good news!

At 6:15, they finally finished the surgery. We got two minutes with the surgeon, who was completely exhausted.

SO FAR ALL THE NEWS IS PERFECT!

He said he saw nothing bad at all. He said, "I am very upbeat about the situation," and repeated that he saw not one single thing that seemed bad.

The had trouble with Bill's intestines, but resolved it, and Bill lost less blood than they expected! He didn't even need a transfusion!

The pathology report will be ready in about a week. That report will be the final polish on our good news. They microscopically inspect 50 lymph nodes and the entire bladder, prostate, and whatever they removed, and if they find nothing, it's considered a cure! A CURE!!!!!!!!!! Of course, he continues to get checked, but if anything shows up, they can catch it right away, in the future.

They said Bill might have to be on a respirator for a while, because they had trouble with his windpipe, and he will have a lot of tubes in him, and will be a hurtin' cowpoke for a long time.

The surgeon expects about 8 days average stay, but some people make it out in 5 days, and some stay 14. It all depends on how Bill heals.

I am in such shock that I don't know what to do or think. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone! I was prepared for so many possibilities, and was afraid to fully even hope for something this great.

We're all exhausted, so signing off for now. But in an hour, I can see Bill in ICU briefly, and I will post again tonight before I go to sleep (if I ever do!) and let you know what it's like in ICU for Bill.

I COULD NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH. YOU--YES YOU--AND YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS HAD SUCH A MAJOR, TOTAL IMPACT ON THIS OUTCOME. I AM SERIOUS. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. GOD BLESS THE SURGEON. GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE WHO LED THE SURGEON INTO A CAREER THAT WOULD PIT THE RATIONAL HUMAN MIND AGAINST THE IRRATIONAL EVIL OF CANCER AND SEE THE HUMAN MIND WIN THAT BATTLE AND SAVE LIVES AS PRECIOUS AS MY BILL'S! GOD BLESS EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE!

Exhilarated, grateful, in shock, exhausted, and loving each and every one of you.

THANK YOU OH THANK YOU OH THANK YOU!