My (23F) 61 year old mom has had some health complications that resulted in pancreatitis back in December. After a stay in the hospital she had a visit with a specialist who has recommended having half her pancreas and her spleen removed to prevent further damage. Her surgery is booked for a couple weeks from now and I'm really nervous about it. I'm an only child and my mom has been my strongest support system. I've never dealt with anything like this before, so the idea of surgery and any resulting complications scares the hell out of me. The specialist told her she'd have quite a few tubes sticking out of her for a couple days after the procedure, and that they'd have to keep an eye on her to make sure there are no issues like pneumonia or an embolism in the days afterward. 

Does anyone have any advice for how I can handle my anxiety about this? Is there anything reassuring that I can remind myself of when I start to worry about the risks associated with surgery?