November 16, 2011, Stage 1 of surgery done

God moved many people to join us in prayer for Aidan during the past weeks. We had hoped that the pre-op MRI exam of Aidan’s brain last Friday would have shown so much of the improvement we had been praying for, the surgeons would have postponed or cancelled the planned major surgery.

There was, however, no change, so the first of his two-stage brain surgery was performed on Monday morning. Surgeons opened a large hole in the left side of his skull and installed a grid with sixty-four electronic sensors directly on his left hemisphere. This is connected to a computer which records exactly where the seizures are originating. Each day until the 24^th, the surgeons will also study how Aidan responds when they send an electrical stimulus through various sensors in order to be as sure as possible which part of the left side of his brain is controlling what part of his body.

We are now trusting God to guide the surgeons and the technicians as they map Aidan’s brain, and decide exactly what parts are causing trouble and must be excised and what parts must be left alone. Since the incision is not closed, there is a 10% risk of infection. Pray that there will be no infection either before or after the main surgery!

Also pray that the brain map will be clear and accurate. Pray for the surgical team when they do the actual brain surgery on Wednesday the 24^th. Pray they will be able to follow the map correctly and not leave anything that needs to be removed, nor take anything that needs to be left.

The risk is high that Aidan will suffer some weakness to the right side of his body. Anything from a limp and a weak arm to total paralysis of the right side. His vision too, may be affected. The language centre is normally on the left side. We hope it has already moved to the right hemisphere. Pray that there will be no permanent negative effects, that the surgery will be phenomenally successful!