UCLA

So yes, in the middle of my miscarriage Grandpa Bulloch had surgery.  Mom, Becca, gramma Bulloch and I drove down to UCLA Friday, June 19th.  Brent and Troy met us at the hospital where Grampa was already checked in and in a bed.  I guess the staff has certain rules about how many visitors at a time, but through the "power of the Pen" they nurse allowed us all to be in the room at the same time.

Grampa had a cancerous tumor on his parotid gland that was huge and painful.  The surgery was pretty risky, considering all the facial nerves are right there, and that he has diabetes and a bad heart.  But I had asked the ENT surgeons I work with about his surgery, Dr. Keith Blackwell, and they all said he was well known and a great surgeon.  We took turns going down to the cafeteria to eat and visit grampa.  Then after grampa went in to surgery, we went to check in to our hotel.  Roger got us rooms at a nearby hotel and our room faced directly to the LA temple. It was beautiful.

Us girls went and got lunch, then made our way back to the hospital to wait.  We sat in the hallway on some benches with Troy and Brent and watched a movie on grampa's phone.  Bruce and His Fiance, can't remember her name, came and met us and they were there briefly before the Dr came down.  The surgery lasted 3.5 hours and he told us everything went well.  He got the tumor and did a little bit of a face lift to graft that skin.  He also saved 2 of the 3 facial nerves that branched in that area.  The one he didn't save, ran directly through the tumor.  It is the  nerve that makes you grimace.  

We felt so much relief and happiness.  I knew that grampa was scared, but we feel very fortunate that the Dr was as amazing as he is.  Bruce took us out to dinner while they got grampa to his room and out of recovery.  Then we went to the hospital to check on him.  He looked so good! Roger drove up to meet us, we said a family prayer and it was a very testimony strengthening and spiritual.  

Saturday roger brought us breakfast.  we took gramma to the hospital and spent the morning in and out of the hospital visiting grampa or shopping/eating nearby.  Grampa was recovering so well that his progress we were told he could go home the following Monday, which he was. 

The priesthood is real.  The Lord makes those testaments stronger each and everyday through our experiences.  I am so grateful for a family where the gospel/priesthood is important.  I am also so grateful to have the knowledge of the gospel and do not take that for granted.  I am truly blessed.