Up at "Oh Dark Early"this morning , greeted by both adjectives... Dark and Early! None of us having consumed more than a wee dram of slumber. We all headed to Shands Hospital for mom's anticipated surgery.
In fine Navy tradition we arrive "On Time" (that's 15 minutes early to you civilians!) to get this necessary operation into the historical record as expeditiously as possible.
Mom, once checked in, promptly at 6:00am I might add, is whisked away to the pre-op holding pen, a hostel of half drawn shower curtains, beeping monitors and scurrying interns, nurses, and orderlies. She is assigned a bed and IV is immediately and expertly installed... first try this time!
As the time drew neigh, the family reserve circled the wagon once again, and with the help of the associate minister from my Mom and Dad's church, offered our thanks to God and asked his blessing on this fine woman... My Mom, Kelly's Mom, Hoagy's Wife... and the Mom, Friend, Den Mother, Teacher, and Confidant to countless others who have offered their heartfelt love, prayers and well wishes as well! All are welcomed to contribute, and I cannot thank all of you enough! Bless you all!
The scheduled operation time came... and... went. Twenty minutes passed. Finally an internist came by, in clipped English, and an even more clipped bedside manor, informed us that there will be a delay. An emergency liver transplant is necessary and this is the OR that is required for it. He began to leave.
"Uh... Not so fast there Ishtar! How long of a delay?"
"Oh until this other surgery is complete."
"Ball park?"
"About 2-ish!"
I should have put my money on the "ish"!
Ok we accept the delay, what else are we going to do? They move mom from one curtained enclosure over to another... penalty box I guess. We we wait... and wait... and... well you get the idea.
Dad and I head off to the cafeteria to fuel up on a fine prepared hearty breakfast. Or we could just settle for what they were serving... Hell it looked like grits, but I think it was the eggs. Best not identified.
After the meal Dad and I went back to the Holding Hostel where we decided that Kelly and I would return to the hotel for a few hours to catch up on some sleep and I on some work. "Be back before 1:00!" - Roger that! Call me if anything changes.
Nothing did change... I completed a number of tasks for work, best to just get them out of my way so I can focus on the proper priority! And headed back to the Hospital, noting along the way,the sheer beauty of the "Ode to a Strip Mall" environment of Gainesville FL.
Back on the second floor, in the "Hall of Shower Curtains" I find mom, resting comfortably relaxing with her second liter of saline. "Any Update?"... Nope.
We again take up positions around mom, captaining her bed with dignity! Well as much dignity as can be mustered in a light blue flowered, tie-in-the-back, hospital robe with the Marx Brother Orderlies running around in their Crocs looking for a missing patient! That's comforting... We continue to shoot the bull (until it is steak) and generally pass the time, mom teaching Kelly how to knit, and Dad and I discussing work, politics, what kind of razor is best used to shave one's newly discovered external nose hair? You know... the important topics of our world.
2:30-ish comes.... and leaves... so does 3:30-ish. Jeez! We continue to wait until half past four when out of nowhere arrive the "A-Team!" Lead by a dark eyed deceptively young looking anesthesiologist and his hippy OR nurse, Henry, in close shadow! The briefing begins... very matter of fact, beginning in the proper place... with an apology for the interminable delay. Couldn't be helped, the OR is dedicated to liver transplants and the one that took place was urgent.
He continued to explain exactly what would be happening in the following hours, how mom would be treated, what she would be aware of and what she wouldn't (which is most of it!). He then paused and asked the family reserve if we had any questions of him. For the most part we did not. Come to find out he is a Naval Flight Surgeon, and has chewed much the same grounds we Carmichael's (especially one of us) are familiar with. Good peeps those Navy Flight Surgeons!
Then Henry took over and delivered his part of the briefing. Henry has the opposite appearance of the anesthesiologist, he's tall, a bit lanky with a nose a size and a half larger than ordered. By all appearances, a perfect cast member for Easy Rider! He too was direct and very mater of fact, but in a wonderfully cheerful, confident manner. "Jo, we're gunna take great care of you! Ya dig? And if it's pain you're worried about? We can manage!" -- Hippies! ;-)
And licitly split, the initial injections began! We offered our words of encouragement and love to mom and assured her that we will be there when she "comes to" expected sometime after midnight. And in a flash, she was wheeled to the OR, with us waving our fond support like the shore based witnesses bidding a Bon Voyage to the departing Captain... Here's wishing you a short, successful, stress-less journey. We'll be here dock side waiting for you!
Love you Mom...
UPDATE: 18:47 Local-
Henry just called, things are going well, mom is under General Anesthesia and all vitals are good! They are beginning the processes in earnest now... next update expected in a coupla... I'll have more here as we learn.
UPDATE: 20:31 Local-
Henry called again... Mom continues to do very well. Affected part of the Pancreas has been removed, along with the spleen. Now advancing to the left lobe of the liver. (Minimum 2 more hours...) will advise.
UPDATE: 22:15 Local-
The Surgeon just called. The operation is complete! And confidence is very high all is well! Planned procedure executed to a tee. Mom moved to the ICU... will be able to briefly visit Mom in about an hour or so. Dad is thrilled! All of us are very relieved, thankful and quite happy at this point.
She is in her favorite chair now, and managed to read a couple of the literally dozens of cards that were delivered here in her absence, when the first knock on the door arrived. She is now surrounded by loving friends, neighbors, and church members, she is non stop smiles right now! What a site to see! 
Recent Comments