YAKIMA, WA - Gramps came through the surgery fine. He's got a long road to recovery ahead of him, but he survived the tough part.

My mom and her siblings, Uncle Lorren (TX) and Aunt Laurie, were there. My cousins Patrick and Deric drove over, and my cousin Chris (TX) arrives tonight.

When I asked Gram on the phone this morning if she could think of anything I could send her way to help from California, she simply said, "Some hope." Well, that worked out.