DAY ZERO - IT'S TIME!

 The alarm clock flashed 5:00 am over and over and over again this morning.  I wasn't sure if I really wanted to get out of bed. Geoff got up and turned on the lights and shut off the annoying alarm clock.  Today was the day....you know the big day....the one I've been counting down to...the one all the readers have been waiting for me to get to.  Well it is here and It's Time to get moving on the first day of the rest of my life.  Geoff and I quickly got prepared for the day and then waiting for my father to come pick us up as Geoff still needed his hand looked at later in the day by his surgeon.  I made it from the bedroom to the livingroom, double checked that I had all my things together and ready to go to the hospital and sat down for a few minutes.  Now I have to say I slept quite well the previous night and I still wasn't very nervous.  Of course there was the normal little jitters but I really was doing remarkably well.  Soon my dad was at the door and ready to pick us up.  I said good bye to my doggies and locked my front door, thinking as I did I will never be the same again....the next time I walk through this door everything will have changed.....for the better!  Into the car we got and my father transported us off to Guelph General Hospital.  We arrive about 6:27am found parking and headed up to the 3rd floor.  I registered at the desk where I had been previously instructed to go and then weighed in.....oh yes, sawdust and donkey doo doo shakes pay off cause I was down 20 lbs folks....that makes 29lbs since Christmas!  I was quite happy.  Once my weight was handed in it was down the hall and around the corner to another waiting room.  There I left my dad and Geoff and went through another door and registered with surgical day care.  I two really well organized nurses had my paperwork ready to go, double checked about my Latex allergy and took my to my cubicle where I was to change and wait to go into surgery at 9am.  I then went back out to the outer waiting room said goodbye to my dad and Geoff and I went into wait in my appointed area.  After changing and filling in more paperwork another nurse came and took all my vitals.  I asked a few questions about the surgery and got some basic answers but did get a glowing recommendation about the doctor and how wonderful a skilled surgeon he was.  The time went quickly and soon it was 5 minutes to 9am.  The Porter showed up and just as he said my name his phone went off and well, so did he.  I quickly got up and went to the washroom thinking this was my last chance to do so before he came back.  Once back from the washroom Geoff said a nurse had been there and said there was an emergency and the surgery would be delayed for awhile.  The ticking of the wall clock became louder and louder as I sat there and waited.  Finally at 10am I sent Geoff off as he had to be back in Cambridge at the hospital there to see the surgeon and have his stitches removed.  I kissed my husband goodbye wished him luck and said "See ya on the flip side honey".  The darn clock kept ticking and ticking and it was louder and louder.  At exactly 10:15 am the thick accently french porter returned.  He apologized for the delay asked if I needed anything and then very quietly and calmly explained the next several steps that we would be doing.  He whizzed me down the halls and into the surgical suites and parked my infront of OR#3.  The big double doors leading into the or room had small windows but I could see the large lights and equipment hanging from the walls and ceilings.  Outside there was 3 Canadian geese fighting with I believe was a doctor trying to use the entrance to the operating suites.  A doctor and a nurse walked through the hall laughing about the geese that guard the doctors entrance.  I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer.  My faith and God had brought me this far, then I was sure that my faith and God would carry me the rest of the way.....you know like the poem that has the footprints in the sand.....it goes from two sets to one.....that is when God is carrying the other person through the difficult time.  As I finished my quick prayer the surgeon came to see me and we had a quick conversation.  Then was the anesthesiologist, she was so very kind.  I asked about the PICC line and how it worked exactly and if it could move again.  She was wonderful in explaining things and took time to assure me that I didn't have to worry.  She then told me that all would be fine and that my airways were great so I could have the intubation done while I was asleep.  I believe I said Hallejuiah! My third vistor was the head OR nurse and again very very kind.  She double checked everything the two doctors had and went over my latex allergy one more time.  She patted my arm and said she would be back for me in 5 more minutes as they were doing one more offical sweept of the OR#3 for latex.  Good to her promise she was back in 5 minutes with a warm blank that was wrapped around me as I walked into the room that my body would change in forever.  The little tiny table made me giggle and I even said I am supposed to fit my butt on that little table.  The 3 nurses and the anesthesiologist all chuckled and said that would soon change.  I got myself arranged on the operating table under the huge lights and all the equipment I say before and a scurry of things began to happen. Oxygen went on my nose, arm boards under my arms, multiple surgical drapes to cover me up.  The next thing was a kind voice saying " now you will feel a little slee...."  I am sure it was sleepy but I was already out.  There is no delay with a PICC line and I was down for the count.  The next time I remember walking up was in my room on the 6th floor sometime Friday night.  I could hear Geoff's voice but I don't think I opened my eyes.  Just knowing he was there was good and off to sleep I went again.  Surgery was done! My new life had begun...now IT's Time to live it!
Steph