Thanks for your thoughts, your help, and your well-wishes. Melissa's surgery on Tuesday went as well as we could have hoped. The doctors were able to see what they needed to see and zapped one large vein-vein connection and a few smaller ones.

There seems to have been an immediate positive effect on the "donor" twin (Spencer). He appeared better-hydrated even while Melissa was still on the table. We're cautiously optimistic.

The only complication in the procedure seems to have been that the recipient's (Micah's) heart-rate slowed to 50-75 bpm (down from 130-150 standard) for a few minutes (less than five). Some degree of brain damage might have resulted, but that's far from certain.

Otherwise, all's pretty well. It seems as though the procedure didn't trigger preterm labor. Melissa is resting comfortably. (Very comfortably: they drew off TWO LITRES [or LITERS, for those of you on this side of the pond] of fluid... between four and six pounds'-worth: yikes!).

M should be released from the hospital in the afternoon Wednesday, provided that the follow-up exams show good things. I'm catching a late flight back this evening and will see y'all bright and early tomorrow AM. Melissa will fly home on Saturday or Monday next.

Again, thanks for everything. We couldn't do it without y'all.