First surgery is done! Tim just had the Halo placed this morning. The surgery took about an hour. They started the traction right away. They originally told us that the traction would not start until tomorrow. Tim is sore. Really bad headache. Go figure :( He has 6 screw placed in his skull. He has had morphine IV and some oral pain medications too. For my medical friends out there they will be doing neuro checks around the clock for at least the first 24 hours and maybe longer. Every hour we are told at first. Got our first chance to talk with Dr. Oulette since being back in Montreal. He is Tim's back surgeon. He placed the Halo this morning. He said the x-rays and CT scan that we had done earlier this week look good. "I am more encouraged than disappointed." He sees several weak vertibrae but some that look promising too (places to put the screws). He is planning on "all day" for the big surgery. At least 3 hours just to get all the lines placed (central, arterial, neuro...) before he can even start his part. My eyes are leaking again. Tears of relief that the first surgery is done and tears of "wow, he has to live in this thing for 2 weeks!!" They promise me that it will get better. Once I have Tim's permission I will post a pic of Tim in the Halo. Thanks for the prayers!! We have peace :) The staff here love Tim!