This morning me and my dad made our way down to Toronto General Hospital. 5:30am was a pretty early morning for me, especially for me lately. My appointment was at 7, and we arrived just on time. We waited in a room and we were told that i was going to be seeing a large variety of people within the next 2-3 hours. Within 5 minutes they were taking my blood. Normally when they take my blood they use the little kid butterfly needle, but today they decided not to. I swear the needle was about 10 times the size of the children’s needle. But in the end, it was just a needle, and i had much bigger things to worry about. a few other nurses came into to do some tests and take my vitals to make sure i was fit to go into surgery. We also talked to a nurse named Judith today for a very long time about what to expect for my stay in the hospital. Judith is a very good friend of my friend Leah’s mom who was also former nurse at sick kids. It was really nice to be able to talk to a nurse who didn’t only know we as the young girl with the rare cause of Melanoma, but me as an athlete, and me as a person.
I should expect to be in the hospital for about 2 weeks, but this time i will be prepared. I know exactly what i’m going to need for the time i wont be able to talk, and the things i will need for entertainment. The day i was omitted to North York General, i had nothing with me other then my jacket. So at least this time I know what to expect.
The last person i saw was the anesthesiologist. She was one if the nicest, and funniest woman i have ever met in my entire life. She seemed so confident in my surgery and so sure everything was going to run smooth, it was difficult to not smile around her. She went through the different procedures they would be accomplishing during my surgery. I just kept hearing ……ostomy, ……ostomy, …….ostomy, …….ostomy, I finally looked up and said, “how many different types of surgery am i going to have!” She had a quick giggle and assured me that i had the best of the best surgeons working on me, and they have been doing this for a million years. She was defiantly the most confident individual we have talked to about my case so far, and that was extremely comforting. She began to explain the drugs i would be taking and the effects, but i was just thankful i was going to be put asleep for this surgery. Being awake for my tracheostomy will probably go down in the most uncomfortable moments of my life.
After we saw the anesthesiologist, we were ready to head to my next appointment. We got into the car and headed to Janique’s house for a craniosacral therapy session, where we wold meet with my mom so my dad could head to work. My treatment was relaxing and calming as always, and its always good to see Janique’s puppy snow pea. Finally my mom and i headed home. I looked at the lock and realized that i had done all that this morning and it wasn’t even 12:30pm. It felt just like old times, exhausted by noon because i’ve already been up for 6 hours. and although i was tired, the feeling of familiarity was comforting.
My surgery is now 6 days away, I am both scared out of my mind and excited. I cannot wait for the day i get my CT scan results back and be able to say “i beat it” and i know the surgery is just bringing me one step closer to that day.
“But in the end, it was just a needle, and i had much bigger things to worry about.” You make such good points throughout your story, things that can actually teach deeper lessons in all their simplicity. I love it!