Surgery or not to surgery, that's the question

So it's been CRAZY lately. For the past few days Leo and I have called each other on the road, and rolled down the window and waved to each other as we've passed each other to our destinations. We've then stated to each other on the phones..... "gee, it was sure nice to see you tonight!" Yes, you can say it.... it's really sad. Anyway, Monday (one of our waving days) Leo had a doctors appointment at the ear, nose, and throat place in Salem. He's always had difficulty breathing through both his nostrils. (One is ALWAYS shut.) and he CONSTANTLY gets nose bleeds. If you've been around Leo much, you know that at LEAST once a week he will get a bloody nose. And I'm talking gooshing. Not a pretty sight.

After the visit with the doc. (and an extensive and rather awkward viewing up his nose and the back of his throat), they discovered a few things:

1. He has a deviated septum. Which means he is only getting half the oxygen through his nose.
2. He has these walls of tissue that should be vertical, but are at a 90 degree angle instead, which is where all those blood vessels are located. This means that massive amounts of air are drying out this section~ hence the tremendous nose bleeds.
3. His tonsils have grown back (I guess he had them removed as a kid.)

What does this mean? This means he's not able to breath well, not getting all the oxygen he should be getting through his nose (which may be why he has terrible head aches in the morning when he wakes up). Options....

Surgery or not to surgery, that's the question. First we see how much it costs and if we can afford it. Our insurance will contact us soon. Then there is the pros and cons. I guess 95% of the time it's successful. I'm wondering what the other 5% looks like! If they go in for the deviated septum they will repair the walls of tissue so he won't get the nose bleeds too. (Which would be great! ~There has been times where I've wondered if we should go to the emergency room from the amount of blood he has lost in nose bleeds alone!)

Truthfully it scares me to death, as I've seen one too many surgeries gone bad with my dad. Any time anybody says surgery I just shutter. I hate the thought of Leo being in pain and having the week of recovery. I've seen pictures of people in the recovery stage from this surgery and it looks REALLY miserable. And finally, secretly, I'm a little curious as to if it will change the look of Leo too. Not that my love is based on looks.... but I love Leo's nose and would be really bummed out if it was different. That's just the selfish part of me, and I have no idea what it's like to only be able to half breath through my nose.

So there is the decision before us. I guess it's got to be made within the next six months or we have to get another diagnoses (another hospital bill) for the same thing. If you would like to lift that one to God, that would be great!