February 2, 2024
Surgery Day Morning
We slept pretty well considering. We were up before the chickens around 3:30 am to shower and head down to the hospital. When I got out of the shower, he was sitting on the little couch dressed. I said “going someplace” since he had not showered yet. And he asked me ever so sweetly, did you bring my pain meds from the car? I just looked at him. HOWWWWWW? How with my perfectly planned system? He laughed and said he figured. So, he went down to the car then jumped in the shower. I ate a banana real quick while he was in the shower, so he didn’t feel bad about not being able to eat. Something about choking down a 4am banana… but I have not pinpointed that emotion yet. (I know how that sounds. I have a juvenile sense of humor) We got to the hospital before 5:30 and they took him right back. I was able to go with him. Remembering back to Fayette where they didn’t let me go back, I was thrilled to get to go. It means everything to get to be with your person for as long as possible. David had a great pre-op nurse and we chatted and laughed while she busied around doing her nursey thangs. Dr. N popped in with a bright orange camo hoodie over his scrubs. He is an avid deer hunter and on the first visit, swore David was the twin to his taxidermist. We are not hunting people and he was so disappointed because he said the beard just screams hunter. I have ragged him about those doe eyed innocent creatures ever since. He did his surgeoney thing and headed out to prepare for miraculous work. David said that is what he looks for in a surgeon, extreme confidence bordering on ego disorder with a fine fashion sense. His nurse said they like Dr. N because he is such a fun person. He does tell you like it is but in a way that you don’t feel hopeless. Someone came to take the visitors back to the waiting area and she popped her head in and asked if there were any visitors? David and I looked at each other and said nope. Haven’t see any. I said “I am his emotional support organizer.” She dropped her head to her chest, shook it and said “Lord have mercy. Bring yourself on out here” She left me to the kissy kissy part, and I wasn’t going to do it, but I got a bit teary. I wanted to say something profound. Say just the right thing to comfort him. But you know that sense of panic that starts rising from way down in your stomach, and the sting that you start to feel in your eyes that you can’t stop even when doing that look up to the ceiling trick. Anyway, after a round of I love you I love you more morer morest, I went out and was escorted back to the waiting room. She saw the tears and said “we are going to take care of him”. I just nodded. I felt so foolish since no one else around seemed to be visibly emotional, so I ducked into a restroom to take a breath.
