Thankful for Those Familiars

Rebekah?

Yeeeess?

Ready?

I guess, so! Can my Mom and Dad come too?

Sure thing!

I’ve walked through those double doors & corridors countless (and I mean countless) times.  I keep telling myself “It’s going to be okay, God’s got this….God’s got you.”  Yet that doesn’t keep me from my heart racing, fears rising and my wishing I was somewhere else.  The volunteer points me to the bathroom and tells me which room to go to after I use the restroom.

Ok, Rebekah, this is your cap, gown, socks….. (in a very cheery voice) Well, you know the drill. I guess.  It looks like you’ve done this many many MANY times! You must be a pro at this. You must be used to this!

<USED TO THIS?  Well, honestly, I’m used to the “drill” yes; the other stuff not so much. Never will>

The drill of changing into those awfully cold hospital gowns (although I do like those hot air hose that they connect you to keep you warm during prep time); the drill of meeting the surgical team which consists of surgeons themselves, nurses & anesthesiologist; the drill of all other prep including the dreaded placement of an I.V., but thankfully they were able to get it in the first try (of course they used numbing medicine!

Finally, it was time to be wheeled off to the O.R.  Again, I’ve been wheeled through those double doors and into that coooold bright room, countless times. I was still awake and hadn’t been given any calming medicine until I actually got into the O.R.  I felt a hand on my shoulder”

Hey There! How are ya!

Oh, HI Dr. G. I’m okay, I guess.

Are ya Ready?

Well, the real question is “are YOU ready? I’ll be asleep!”

I’ll take good care of ya!

I know you will! (by this time the anti-anxiety medication has begun to take effect….)

I slide on to the OR table, where everyone around me is putting every single monitor on me, leg compression, etc.  My surgeon? Right beside me, not moving a muscle and trying to carry a conversation with me. He’s talking to me about my former surgeon I had before him (Dr. E was my surgeon when I was a baby through my mid teen years), he talked to me about what I liked about Thanksgiving dinner and we found out both of our families doesn’t do turkey, rather we do ham as well we all dislike stuffing, etc.  He basically did a great job keeping my mind occupied as they were trying to prep me.

Then this happened:

Okay, Rebekah, I need you to take some deep breaths

(I look over and see the oxygen mask and *ahem* "complained") NO!!!

Oh yea, I forgot she doesn’t like masks on her face (My surgeon says) I really don’t know why…I’ve never liked anything tight around my face or anything, it could be attributed to claustrophobia. 
 

They remedied the situation immediately by putting the oxygen mask just close enough to my face that I can breathe the oxygen in; then anesthesiologist was telling me that they are going to give me my medicine now and I just looked at him and smiled. My surgeon is still at me side reminding me things will be fine and how he knows that all these surgeries are never easy no matter how simple or complex they might be. 

I went through surgery this past November 8, 2016.  I kept it on the quiet side before surgery for various reasons, and I humbly ask please do not ask why.  I don’t think I have ever shared with anyone my experiences before surgery.  In a way is very personal and in a lot of way very scary and never easy.

…..but I share this with you because I’m so grateful.  These past years have been so rough on me.  This past year has been particularly rough on me as I suffered through a lot of pain from my car accident, continued head pain, migraines, and increased pain from my NF disorder.  I’ve put off taking care of my NF for two years because of my other health issues, I finally decided that my NF had to be taken care of.  I’m so grateful for my surgeon and his team that God has blessed me with.   He is one of few that I can directly email and ask any questions of concerns and I will get an immediate response.  He stood by my side (literally) in the OR room as I was getting prepped to help keep my mind of things and remembered things about me that I like and don’t like to help ease my comfort.  

And though, I have walked through those double doors, corridors, cold rooms, countless times, I'm forever grateful that I HAVE a place to walk through again, again, and again when needed. Because, God has given me that avenue and a place to go to.

I’m forever grateful for my doctors, for my caring surgeon, for my Godly surgeon.  

Most of ALL I'm forever grateful to God.....