...he's OK!!  I just got back from the hospital and my Dad's doing great after they removed the tumor!!  I got there about 5:30 AM & my sister & him were already in a pre-surgery room.  We answered questions about his medical history, any metal objects inside him...etc...etc...and then he was wheel chaired down to pre-op where we met up w/ the anesthesiologist, the nurse assisting, and finally the neurosurgeon...all very nice and all seemingly very well prepared...he was scheduled to be in there for 4 hours but I got a call from my sister after 2 and was told that:

1) The doctor was able to removed 98% of the tumor.  The other 2% is around a sinus nerve & the doctor felt uncomfortable cutting to close to it.

2) The tumor broke through the top of his skull and the bone was somewhat disintegrated so he now has a nice new steel plate in his head...I know he's thrilled.

3) They don't know if the tumor is benign or malignant yet.  The results of the biopsy won't be available for about 2 days...BUT if it was malignant (i.e. cancerous), it probably would have hurt him when we touched it & it never did.  He never even knew it was there....there were no headaches, vision problems, or anything else associated w/ cancer so it's probably OK....

Was it worth the worry?  Who knows but at least he's in ICU (as was planned since it's essentially brain surgery & rather serious) & talking & laughing as usual....cool.....I'm glad this part is over & now it's just a matter of seeing his recovery....yay.....!!