Here is a link to an article fully describing Conner's surgery, along with photographs. Not for the squeamish, but it is a good article.
http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/thoracic/expert_tech-15.html

What a difference a day makes. Conner and Aunt Jackie (if you ever need an adoring attendant, she's your gal). Lucky Conner. Luckier Hoss. At home, finally.

Friday morning after getting out of the hospital bed, Conner vowed, "I'm not getting back in that bed!" True to his word, he spent the day sitting up in a chair while we waited for Dr. Bloss to show up to discharge him from the hospital. Once home that evening, he settled into the "electric chair" we borrowed from Susan (lifts, lowers and reclines automatically, making getting up and down easier). Moonie, his cat, is most pleased he is home. She promptly ensconced herself in his lap, where she is now usually found keeping Conner company.

The first two nights at home have been much better than the last two nights in the hospital. Conner has a little trouble getting comfortable, but settles and sleeps better. Me too, especially since we don't have someone waking us up every two hours. We plan to try giving him his pain meds "on demand" rather than on schedule beginning today or tomorrow. The doctor said he should expect pain for the next couple of weeks, and some days will be good and some not.

He is amazing! His attitude has been mostly upbeat and positive, in large part thanks to Aunt Jackie. She was a Godsend in the hospital, keeping Conner entertained, reassured and cheered up. Even when he was trying very hard not to, she could coax a smile out of him.

He is taking a couple of short walks down the street a day and is conscientious about eating healthfully, particularly about getting his calcium RDA (from ice-cream, Uncle Hoss will be glad to know).

The surgery appears to have been a great success. The doctor gave us "before and after" pictures taken internally with a thorascope showing his sternum compressing his heart and diaphragm, then the bar lifting the sternum away from them.. There is a huge improvement on the outer appearance of his chest as well. He's going to look like Superman!

We will try to keep everyone posted on his progress. Feel free to call (just not late at night) to talk to us. Love, Patty