I'm back from neurosurgery, with most of an ugly tumor removed from inside my spine. It was, thank heaven, thank the uiverse and thank whatever powers you may believe in, BENIGN! Long, ugly and deeply entwined around four central nerves is how my surgeon later described it....much like thorny vine that had already strangled three serves and was on it's way to paralyzing the left half of my body. He tells me that I am (something I already knew) one of the truly lucky ones.

There are to be lasting side effects - unavoidable - but simply consequences of having to remove so much of the bone of three vertibrae in order to access the tumor, as well as having to remove tumor attached to nerves that are both motor and sensory in  determination. I will always have weakness and limited use of my left arm and hand. I will always have nerve pain in my neck, and left shoulder, arm and hand. I figure it is a reasonable trade and one I can live with. In the recouperative phase they have put me on lots of corticosteroids which seem to have stabalized my vision for the time being.

You just never know when or where a silver lining may show up.

Just prior to my surgery I was contacted by a regional TV show - one that's been on for about 25 years now - that features regional people and places of interest. They wanted to do a story on the "Fairy Nana Project" - my working on 50 faerie costumes for Children's Hospital in Seattle which I had hoped to deliver in time for Christmas. One of their personalities and a film crew came out to interview and film me but because of my surgery schedule,  delivery of the costumes cannot be done now until after the holidays - so they will complete the filming in January.  During the delay a lady from the hospital contacted me to let me know they wanted to start a guild - a non profit foundation at the hospital named after me called the FAIRY NANA FOUNDATION so that other women (and men) could join and continue my "work" after I could no longer see or use my arms well enough to sew. I was stunned - and I felt incredibly honored. It was exactly what I had worried the most about - who was going to make the costumes for the children if - or when - I no longer could.

It will be a while before I can strap my wings back on - It looks like I have a big zipper down my back from inside my hairline down midway my back....but at the moment I've got lots of cool pain drugs - don't think I need the wings to feel like I'm flying.....

I'm getting tired now and need to go back to bed. I just wanted to check in with my friends at EF and let you know how things were going and give you the good news update. So many of you have been so kind with words, photos, and thoughts that have meant the world to me.

I love this site. I love you all.

Fairy Dust for everyone!!!!