Thinking of Surgery

A friend, writing about his daughter's surgery this morning, brought back memories of one of Emily's surgeries. Several days before surgery we had to take Emily to the hospital. There they checked her breathing, medications, allergies, and whether she wore false teeth. She was weighed and measured, temperature taken, and notes written up. Talk about a day long appointment, between the drive to Seattle, and the drive back, it really was all day.

On surgery morning Emily's schedule was only changed a little. Feeding pump was turned off and all medications were put in her medicine bag (This is a bag I always take to the hospital because while they know what medications she needs, they don't usually have medications ready for her until very late in the evening after surgery). I dressed her in new pajammas, combed her long beautiful hair and braided it, and then helped her choose one of her "kids" to go with her (usually Rabbie or Piglet). She was placed in her wheel chair, coat put on, and blanket spread over her legs.

Its always dark outside when we leave for the hospital. I think its a rule, you have to arrive before the sun comes up. We had a long way to drive so we got a very early start. After driving through thin traffic (who drives into Seattle at 4am?) we park our van in a spot specifically for a van with a wheel chair lift. That is one of the perks for getting to the hospital early.

Inside the hospital the lights are dim, maybe to help little ones stay asleep. We are told to wait in the lobby until we have been called. There are several televisions broadcasting the news, and those who arrived before us are either sleeping in their chairs, or sipping yukky machine coffee because the coffee stand across the hall hasn't opened yet.

Once we are called back to the intake area we are given private quarters and asked to dress Emily in the hospital gown. A nurse takes her temperature and blood pressure and then shows us to the children's waiting area. There are toys and a couple of children in there already playing. Emily looks at us as if to say, "Do I HAVE to be in here, again?"

Soon one, then two, then the last child is called to their gurney and taken down the hall to their waiting surgeon. And we wait for Emily's turn. We watch a video that Emily seems to enjoy. I read a book, and then another, and we still wait. Now we've been in this room for an hour, and we're still waiting......

I'm beginning to think that Dr X must have had a very difficult case before us. It sure is taking a long time for them to bring Emily back to surgery. About an hour after they were supposed to come get Emily for surgery I decide to leave our private playroom and go to the intake desk for information. I take the woman by surprise and she wanted to know where we were.

"What do you mean you want to know where we were? We were sitting in the waiting room where you PUT us!" Hummmm. I'm told to go back to the waiting room and a nurse will come get us. No sooner than I walked away and the lady at the desk was talking on the phone.

"I found them," she announces. They've been here waiting in the waiting room...." Her voice trails off. I can't believe it! They LOST us! Who would have thought that we could be signed in, and then put where we were supposed to be, and they forgot about us??? Yes folks, this really happens.

We were ushered back to surgery and met with the doctor. He had no idea we were even in the hospital. He was waiting for us! I just couldn't believe it. I told him we had been there since very-dark:30 and had been waiting on him in the little waiting room that they placed us in.

What a start to the day. But to our happiness the rest of the day went without a hitch. Emily did well through surgery and she was in her room, and medications brought to her on time! Wow, I think that was a first.

So while I reminicse about surgery I have to say I'm so glad that Emily doesn't have any surgeries scheduled for this year. Yippee!