Surgery.... AGAIN

The morning of May 7th 2009 I was woke up at 6 am. The nurse came in to take my vitals. Around 7 am I got up and went downstairs so I could enjoy the beautiful morning (okay so I was having a smoke!), and while I was doing that I also called my mom who was staying at a hotel with My Auntie Randa and her friend Tracy (whom I refer to as Auntie Tracy). She said that she would hurry and get dressed and stuff to get to the hospital. I told her there was no rush because they were not coming until 10ish to prepare me for surgery.

The morning seemed to fly by because the next thing I knew my Mom, Auntie Randa and Auntie Tracy were sitting with me in my hospital room.

Some guy came in and asked me to change into the beautiful hospital gowns that I would have to wear for the next couple days (sense the sarcasm?). I went into the washroom to change out of my nice comfy jammie pants into this hideous hospital gown that makes NO ONE look good.... took one last look in the mirror, took a second to regroup.... I was scared... it was getting close to crunch time..... I was starting to get nervous but I didn't want to let on.... Stay strong girl... if you cry they (meaning my Mom and my Aunts) will cry too... they don't need to worry. I reminded myself that I had the best doctors taking care of me and then I came out of the washroom.

Me and my mom waiting for me to go to surgery... the bear in the picture is the one that Jaimie (my sister) got everyone to sign at my PreSurgery Party, the Kitty that my mom is holding is what my friend Jessica got me before I left... both the Teddybear and the Kitty were very comforting... probably more of a comfort than any 23 year old woman should find in stuffed animals but.... they got me through alot!
Me and my Auntie Randa who flew from Kelowna to be with me and my Mom

Me and Auntie Tracy before surgery

Soon a nurse came in to put the IV in... and then I had to move onto the bed that would transport me into the operating room.... then a nurse came in and told me that they would be moving me out of the room that I had spent the night in to another ward... so my mom had to quickly gather all my belongings and pack them with her....it was about 10:20am... the guy wanted me to get on the bed and they would be transporting me to the operating part of the hospital... all the sudden I felt cold... My mom requested a heated blanket for me and the nurse ran and got one for me. It helped me feel a bit better.... not much but a bit.....

I was holding onto my IV pole as the man turned my bed around and started to make our way out of the ward that I was in, and down to the operating area. My mom and Auntie Randa were allowed to follow part of the way. The guy pushing my bed stopped at the big doors that lead into the operating waiting area. This is where I had to say goodbye to my Mom and Auntie. I kept telling myself on the short journey to these doors that I wasn't going to cry; but as soon as I had to say bye to my mom I started to cry... I didn't want to do this again.... no more pain please! The first picture is me saying goodbye to my mom (I was crying by this point) the second is of me giving Auntie Randa a hug before I went through the operating doors.

Then it was time for me to go through the doors, I never looked back. I was trying to wipe my tears so that the poor guy pushing me wouldn't think I was a big baby.... probably too late at that point... but I was trying to save my pride. The guy wheeled me in to the waiting area and parked me in my waiting stall. It was quite busy this morning... people being wheeled in just to sit and wait. As I was waiting I noticed a picture on the wall. It was the most beautiful scenic picture I have ever seen... and it just so happened to be of Brazil. I am planning on going there in the Spring to do some volunteer work at a hospital... I remember thinking... "It must be a sign, this surgery will go great and I will get to see this in the Spring." It helped me calm down a bit.

The anesthesiologist came to talk to me, got me to sign some papers and asked a few questions. Shortly after she left I was being wheeled into the room where I would be having my surgery. It was a small room over in the corner and the lady had to manouver my bed just right just to get it in there! I wasn't used to being in such a small room! Dr McMullen was in there. He looked a little different than when I had met him before... he was in his scrubs.... but he made me feel comfortable... he sounds very confident and I like that in a doctor, especially one that was going to be cutting me open! The next few minutes they put heart monitors on me... I hate the gues stuff they put on you... that stuff doesn't come off easily and it feels nasty! The next thing I remember is them telling me that I was going to sleep.... then it was lights out.