Mom's surgery: Part One

On Wed the sixth my mom was scheduled for a Laparoscopic Hysterectomy. (For those who don't know what that is, look it up. It'll be educational.) Since she was having the surgery at a nearby hospital I originally planned to bus in to lend moral support, but she called me the morning of and said she would pass by the apartment on her way to the hospital so would I rather she just pick me up. It was earlier than I'd planned but I answered an emphatic yes because a ride beats taking the bus any day. Plus I brought my Gameboy so as not to get too bored.

Once she checked in at the hospital it was a few minutes' wait until one of the nurses took Mom to a pre-preop info session/prep. After a few more minutes of waiting I was able to go see her in the room where the anesthesiologist and then the surgeon came in and explained the procedure and what Mom should expect. The anesthesiologist was all business, a little stiff with his bedside manner. The surgeon however, whose (last) name was Shibley, had a very interpersonal way about him. I felt that when he talked to me and my mom he was focused on the moment instead of just wanting to get the conversation over with so he could get to work. It's like with Doc Sig, I felt that Shibley didn't see Mom as just another surgery but as an actual person. Maybe I only think it'd be otherwise because I watch too much t.v.

So after the nurses came and walked Mom to surgery I went back to the waiting room to...uh...wait. An hour later Dr. Shibley came in and said the surgery went perfect, couldn't have gone better, and Mom was currently in Phase One recovery (waking up and being monitored just after the surgery) which would take about an hour and a half, after which I could go see her.

My dad only had to work in the morning on Wed and so intended to meet up with me and my mom to give her a ride home. He got there about 15 minutes after I was escorted in to see Mom. Another nurse came in and made sure Mom had the pertinent information about post-op activities, the do's and don't's, and checked that Mom did indeed have a ride home and that there would be someone present to keep an eye on her. We answered yes on all points and so Mom was discharged around 3 pm.

Unfortunately she had some minor complications and we ended up taking her back that same evening, which I will not get into at present. Hence the name, Part One. She's fine, but I need sleep and so will finish this tomorrow (or the next day).