They have made so many advances in the field of minimally invasive surgery (as I am sure you know because of your job). It is amazing to see, having worked on a surgical assistant class for 15 years!

Much luck and ma and not murderizing to the Stately Lang-Beckmeyer Manor

They have made so many advances in the field of minimally invasive surgery

Right? Just 3 years ago, my mom had a heart valve replaced and an aneurysm repaired and it had to be open-heart surgery, crack the sternum, the whole shebang. Now it's just sneaky little robot surgery going in through a tiny hole in Tim's side and repairing the valve and boom, all fixed.

I thought it was weird to post about my kitty's surgery in the same post as Tim's,but

1. She is still super sleepy, but I think it is the Gabapenti 2. She still really hates the cone 3. They would have done minimally invasive surgery on her if I had brought her in October! Minimally invasive tiny kitty surgery! I can't even imagine the instruments, because I have seen the human ones and they are HUGE in proportion to a kitten 4. I actually recognize the suture type they used from working on that class. 5. I think in an apocalyptic situation, I might be able to suture better than the average Joe, but not better than a doctor or nurse practitioner or trained combat medic.

Another benefit to the minimally invasive stuff that people don't think of is that it allows woman and less strong people into the field, especially of being the assistant. Retracting requires a lot of upper body strength, and I think it is one of the reasons women didn't go in to that specialty. I mean, they can absolutely do it, but I think the robotic and minimally invasive stuff makes it more appealing. We have seen our guest lectures go from almost 100 percent male to predominantly female (although nurses who are male often go into surgery)

That's very interesting, Sophia. One of those things that would never have occurred to me because I just don't know anything about those practicalities.

It is only anecdata at this point, but we could probably do a study... Nursing is so weird, in that it is so female dominated that white, straight men are considered underrepresented minorities, but they still get the highest paying jobs the quickest!

Cindy, I'm so glad for good news for C! That's wonderful to hear.

Tep, I'm so sorry you and Tim have had to deal with so much health stress lately. Wishing Tim loads of heart ~ma.

Gud, that's awesome about your son!

Today I drove myself to my clinic appointment. I hadn't driven in nine weeks, so it feels really good to get some of my independence back. My friends have been beyond amazing, but being able to go places on my own has helped my mood considerably.

There was just a thing on Marketplace Morning Report about the continuing lack of female heart surgeons! [link]

Today I drove myself to my clinic appointment. I hadn't driven in nine weeks, so it feels really good to get some of my independence back. My friends have been beyond amazing, but being able to go places on my own has helped my mood considerably.

That's fantastic!

Yay, amyth!!

I love seeing this round of good news among buffistae!

Cindy, I'm so glad he's headed back to school.

Laura, I'm also very glad that your son has found a job that's getting him up and moving around at least. Computers might be a bad fit for him in some ways. I wonder if applying his problem solving acumen to something like a contractor type job might be more engaging and lean towards his strengths and away from his temptations.

Woo hoo, on Epic getting her living space in order.

Woo hoo, on Miley finding such a sweet home and offloading of Legos.

Glad to have Tim lined up for the surgery and that they can do it without cracking him open like a lobster.

Gud, it's been fascinating watching your spicy brained son grow up. That's fantastic that he's already got something lined up after college. Though I expect that by the time he finishes college he'll have a bunch of headhunters hunting for his head.

Cool beans, on autonomy and mobility, amyth!