The Big Day was finally here. I woke up, took my shower, and got ready to leave for the hospital. My son and grandchildren came to meet us at the hotel. They would not allow my granddaughter to wait in the waiting room by herself. After all, she was only twelve. So her dad came to sit with her in the waiting room. The woman who greeted us was a volunteer. She was shocked and assumed everyone in our group was there to check in. Panic seemed to fill her until we told her that I was the only one checking in. It was kind of funny. Yes, my son and grandkids were there to support me.
Her demeanor seemed to change when she realized it was only me. The hospital staff was very efficient and polite.
I was called back quickly to complete registration. Then we were escorted to the 4th floor for pre-op by the very same volunteer. She made it very clear there was limited space in that waiting room, with the possibility of having to go down to the larger waiting area if things got busier.
I was called back quickly. I didn't even have a chance to sit down before I was called to go and get my vitals taken. Then to an area that looked like an emergency room. Beds and curtains separated each patient. The nurse entered and began preparing me for surgery.
She gave me a hospital gown to change into. It was freezing cold, so she brought me a nice warm blanket. She had stacks of items on the bedside table at the foot of my bed. She explained everything she was doing to me. She administered them one item at a time. Placed the IV into my hand (I nearly jumped out of bed). Ouch, that hurt! She administered a shot to my leg, which was a blood thinner. She put on white compression socks and then added another pair of ugly yellow socks. Then she put on my fancy green compression "boots". Then she unwrapped a large cushion that was to be placed on my buttocks for added padding when I was on the surgical table. The nurse took an account of everything I had with me. Counting the amount of cash I had, credit cards, and even the clothes I wore. When I was almost done, the nurse called to have my husband come down before they took me to the surgical room. The medications the nurse administered were beginning to take effect. I can truly say I was all doped up.
The anesthesiologist entered the room and explained what she would be doing. She was going to administer a nerve block to three areas of my torso.
Soon after the anesthesiologist left the room, my surgeon came in. I think he was surprised because my husband was praying over me when he walked into the room. He quietly and patiently waited until my husband was done praying. He then took a marker from my bedside table and began mapping out the areas to be removed. He had asked my husband to block the curtains to prevent anyone from entering the room. I felt very uncomfortable standing there while my surgeon drew (what I believe was) a diagram of where each incision would be placed. My husband later said they were probably more reference points.
I don't remember much of what happened next. All I know is that the nurse was wheeling me to the surgical room and directing my husband back to the waiting area. When I arrived in the surgical room, I remember a group of people lifting me onto the surgical table. The last thing I remembered was a woman placing something over my face. She said to me, "It's okay, we're just giving you oxygen." I think it was really the anesthesia that put me to sleep. It was lights out.
Scarlett
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