Surgery, Pt. 1

We got to the hospital at 5:30. This is even before the doors have officially opened! Thom and Kathy drove us there and Dad and Pam were there to meet us. Amy and crew showed up shortly. We checked in at the desk and were told to have a seat. We sat for a few minutes, making small talk and looking at each other. I was pretty stunned by the fact that the day had arrived, and everyone was pretty tired - neither hotel had decent coffee, much to the dismay of my coffee consuming family.

Amy was called first. She and her entourage had just disappeared down the hall, when my name was called. We gathered up our things and followed the escort to the 2nd floor. My family was showed to the family waiting room, while Mikey and I were put in a little room. I got changed out of my street clothes, into the glamorous gown they provided for me. Actually, the gown, robe, TED socks, and slippers all matched well. I was quite fashionable. We were in this room for about an hour, while nurses came in to take my vitals, give me instructions, and put an IV in my hand. Eventually, it was time to say goodbye to Mikey (something that happened way too quickly). I had to lie down on a gurney and get a ride back down to the pre-op room on 1st floor. That was a new perspective!

In pre-op, I had to answer lots of questions - the most disconserting of which being "So, what are we doing for you today?". Um. I know that is for good reason, but I would feel better if they didn't sound so uncertain! I met the anesthesiologist and spent lots of time people watching while I waited for Amy to show up. When she got there, we were put next to each other so we could chat. At about 8:30, they said it was time to go, so I said goodbye to Amy.

The operating room was full of masked people and shiny machinery. Everyone said "Goodmorning" as I was wheeled in, which was surprisingly comforting. I was shifted from the gurney to the operating table (I was sitting on a beanbag!), and they started applying monitors and such. As I was lying on the table, staring up at the huge lights (like a dentist's light, but much bigger), I had my first few moments of fear. I was just starting to have a flutter of panic when the anesthesiologist said he was going to give me "a little something to take the edge off". I'm not sure what edge he was talking about though, because before I could ask him, I was asleep. The next thing I remember, a nurse was saying my name and telling me that I was in the recovery room.

According to Mikey's recollections, I was cut into at about 9:06 and the kidney was removed at about 9:50. By 10:55, I was stitched up and hanging out in the recovery room, waiting for my brain to catch up with my body. At this point (5 days later), I'm still not sure it's totally caught up. It's time for a rest. Recovery details coming later...