GROUNDHOG DAY, PART 2...
Where do I begin?
Surgery at noon got bumped to surgery at 2 because Wallace's bag of platelets that were ready to go to the OR at 12 had to be given to someone else today. A new bag was ordered from Lubbock. The platelets couldn't be delivered by noon due to bad weather up north, so Dr. Patel had to rearrange his schedule, which meant he worked on someone else at 2. We were told the the surgery would begin at 4. At 4:30 we went to the OR. I kissed Wallace good-bye and went to the waiting room. At 5:10 the assistant surgeon (for lack of better word) came to the door and informed me Dr. Patel couldn't get to Midland because he was involved in a life-threatening surgery in Odessa. Wallace is on the table, unconscious, betadyne painted and catheterized with a breathing tube in place. An incision had not been made. What to do?
As I type this, my husband is in the CCU still under anesthesia. Surgery will take place in the morning at 6 or shortly thereafter. He's not going to wake up until after that's over. The tube stays, the catheter stays, they will have to re-paint him. I'm told he won't remember anything about this situation. I asked the staff to re-set the clocks and don't change the calendars. I don't want to be present when he figures it all out.
Stay tuned...
Where do I begin?
Surgery at noon got bumped to surgery at 2 because Wallace's bag of platelets that were ready to go to the OR at 12 had to be given to someone else today. A new bag was ordered from Lubbock. The platelets couldn't be delivered by noon due to bad weather up north, so Dr. Patel had to rearrange his schedule, which meant he worked on someone else at 2. We were told the the surgery would begin at 4. At 4:30 we went to the OR. I kissed Wallace good-bye and went to the waiting room. At 5:10 the assistant surgeon (for lack of better word) came to the door and informed me Dr. Patel couldn't get to Midland because he was involved in a life-threatening surgery in Odessa. Wallace is on the table, unconscious, betadyne painted and catheterized with a breathing tube in place. An incision had not been made. What to do?
As I type this, my husband is in the CCU still under anesthesia. Surgery will take place in the morning at 6 or shortly thereafter. He's not going to wake up until after that's over. The tube stays, the catheter stays, they will have to re-paint him. I'm told he won't remember anything about this situation. I asked the staff to re-set the clocks and don't change the calendars. I don't want to be present when he figures it all out.
Stay tuned...
