Hi Campbell,
The one big thing I've learned about MM is be careful about giving too much advice because everyone recovers differently

BUT...to put you and Tara a little at ease, this may help: I had my left side STA/MCA bypass surgery on May 18th. I had lots of trouble with my speech which began easing off some on May 21st when I was released. My surgeon, Dr. Barrow @ Emory Univ. Hosp in Atlanta assured me that the reason for my difficulty was due to the fact that he attached my "scalp" artery to the artery on my brain that was very near my center for speech. He said that there would be swelling there for several days but assured me that I did not have a stroke during surgery and that it would eventually go back to normal.
When I was in ICU, I couldn't make myself say "butterfly needle" and had to call my mom into my room to speak for me! I was asked at another time what month it was and replied "march" when it was really may and explained that "at least I had the first letter right"!
On another occasion I was asked to say "no ifs ands or buts" and after trying several times, couldn't get it right!

In about a week, it almost all cleared up (it seemed to be aggravated by my pain medicine,percoset), and by May 28th when I was completely off of it (the percoset) I was back to normal as far as my speech goes ;

Tomorrow will be 4 weeks post surgery, I've had my staples out, been back to work for a week, and just had my follow-up visit with Dr. Barrow! ;

He's having his office call me to schedule my right side next. Have any idea what that will affect?

I'll understand if you don't feel like writing

.
It's a lot harder being on YOUR side of the fence - my parents were there!
My prayers, too are with Tara,
SC girl