Surgery Day

I cannot even begin to explain to you the amount of anxiety and nervousness I felt leading up to the surgery. I was so scared and worried about the unknown after surgery. Would I need Chemo? Has the cancer spread into the lining of my colon? What will happen after surgery? With all of those thoughts, I had to say goodbye to Jay that day. I have never been away from him overnight and I was going to miss him so very much. So, needless to say, there were a lot of emotions building up as surgery approched.

Surgery Day was June 23, 2011 at JHH. After being on a liquid diet for 48 hours and taking 2 enemas that morning, we arrived at 11:45 and met my father and mother in law there. We went to the waiting area of the Weinberg Building and checked in. I waited about 30 minutes and then was led back to the area where I would be prepped for surgery.  I changed into the gown and met many different people who were part of the surgery team, including my doctor, Dr. Efron.  They put the IV in and I waited for my family to come back. I hugged and kissed my father and mother in law and they walked back to the waiting room. Jason stayed with me until it was time to go. I knew I would see him again, but the overwhelming emotions just poured over me. We held back tears, hugged, kissed and I was rolled away to the operating room at around 1:45. I remember coming into the operating room and thinking, "This is for real. This is really happening. I have cancer and I am here because they have to get it out." All of this had been so hard to accept and understand. But the realness of the situation made it clear at that moment. I was getting ready to fall asleep under the anesthesia, and the nurse made me think about going to the beach. I couldn't think about it well because I was so scared. I remember trying to recite Isaiah 41:10 in my mind right before I fell asleep. I was scared and the tears that formed in my eyes was the proof.

I woke up in the operating room and I couldn't breathe and panicked! They finally calmed me down and took me to the recovery area at around 6:30 pm or so. Jason had left earlier to pick up Jay from daycare. They brought my dad in and I could barely sign to him since I was so sleepy. I think he was glad I was okay and left to go home.  My mother in law came in and stayed with me until they were going to take me to my room. I was really tired and out of it.  They took me up to my room and I had to shimmy myself with the help from the nurses onto my hospital bed in the room. It felt like a major job to do but eventually I got on that bed and went to sleep.