I asked my doctor to take a camera into the operating room while he operated on me. Some of these pictures are terrible, because it was just a cheap disposable camera. | ||
Also available from the surgery are the before/after pictures. Thanks to my friend Jenner for scanning these pictures. | ||
 Strapped on to the table before surgery. My head is to the right, wrapped up under a hot-air blanket.
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 Laying with my right side down.
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 Dr. Weissman, the surgeon, is on the right.
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 Prepped for surgery- that's betadine all over my torso. You can see the ducting for the blanket in the upper left. Also visible is the catheter (yellow tube, going down my leg) and a blue patch on my thigh, an electrode for electrocautery.
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 Starting the incision- my body has been reduced to a square foot of skin.
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 Surgery team posing for the camera. Dr Weissman is holding the scapel, third from the left.
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 Cutting and spreading. Looks like they are cauterizing.
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 More cutting and spreading.
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 Look at that hardware!
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 More hardware and spreading.
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 Twisty-handled tool is a retractor.
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 The kidney is out.
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 Picture of the kidney. The ruler is about 6 inches, which gives an idea of the size.
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 These are blurry because of the fixed focus on the disposable camera.
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 Poking and prodding.
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 Sealing things up.
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 All sealed up- some of the 25 staples are visible.
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