This is such an interesting project, and what a read. I saw one of the comment below liken it to surgery, and it was exactly like that! It is such a shame when people do not know what they are doing. I see it on a daily basis with my own plants. I have yet to take so much care with a plant as you, as my philosophy in the garden is that it needs to survive on its own.

I really commend your patience with this plant, and I hope that it will survive! Thank you so much for sharing this rather intimate story!