“I thought I’d never be able to run without getting tired until I got to Heaven.” Katie said that to me last night as we were talking about all the amazing things she will be able to do once her valve-transplant is done. It almost made me cry; I teared up.
She wants to learn to swim “for real”, as in good enough for a swim team; she wants to take unlimited walks; she wants to run around the park as much as she can.
We went to the pre-op appointment this morning at the hospital, where she answered more questions, most of them the same as before, they took more blood, we met with the anesthesiologist, we met Dr. Clough’s Physician Assistant, Katie got a “goodie bag” with special anti-bacterial soap, instructions and hints for what’s going to happen tomorrow, a breathing-exerciser she will need to use after her operation to keep her lungs from collapsing, and the always-popular enema to make sure she’s all cleaned out for the surgery. As the nurse said “it’s not your typical birthday party-type goodie bag.” ha ha So true!
The anesthesiologist answered a lot of questions that Katie was worried about; the main one was about waking up during the operation. She asked, “Am I going to wake up?” He replied, “Eventually.” ha ha He went on to say that it’s the goal that she wakes up after the surgery. ha. He was really nice. Because she had read in that stupid, poorly-worded, so-called “helpful” pamphlet they gave her 2 weeks ago after her 2 procedures about “…you might find yourself waking up during the operation, while still in the Operating Room. Don’t panic.” Oh, that’s helpful. I think they could have explained it a little better than that!! She’s been sort of a lot worried since she read that. He explained that she could “become aware” of what’s happening for a few seconds or a minute (never longer), but she will never feel pain during that time. There will be too many “good drugs” in her system. However, as they are re-circulating her blood (kind of necessary since they are working on the heart!), there may be a moment when the “sleep drugs” are not affecting her brain for a few seconds. It could happen at the beginning and the end of surgery. The anesthesiologist said that in all his years of doing this, he has never seen it; it seems to be a pretty rare occurrence, but it has to be addressed in the stupid, poorly worded, so-called “helpful” pamphlet.
Katie felt so much better after talking to him. Much more relaxed. After our talk with all the important people, a volunteer showed us the waiting room where Alex and I will be sitting and waiting. The good part is---it has wifi!! That is so great since I’m almost falling asleep writing this because I’m so so so so so tired. We have to be over there by 5AM (!!!!!!!). I need to at least pretend to be getting some sleep. It’s going to be a loooooonnnnnngggggg day tomorrow.
Katie, Alex, and I had our “circle of prayer” a little bit ago. Praying is always such a help. God bless you, Katie-girl. I love you.
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