The Waiting Room
We dropped Gabriel off at his old pre-school just before 6:30 a.m. and headed into the hosptial. Gabriel was getting some time to catch up with old friends. Hannah was going to go to surgery. Janette and I were headed to a succession of waiting rooms.
Waiting Room #1: Intake 7:10 a.m.
We arrived just before the 7:15 a.m. requested time, wheeling Hannah into the day patient waiting room. We met a family there and caught up on all things beads, dogs, and the like. I sung to Hannah. Janette held Hannah. We killed time, and Hannah remained suprisingly patient.
Eventually, we were called up & gave the hosptial all the same info they have on file from several weeks ago, July, and January. Yep, still the same. I wheeled Hannah around the ward while Janette did the paperwork dance. Eventually, we made it to the day surgery room.
Waiting Room #2: Day Surgery 7:45 a.m.
We met another family here and compared stories, kid count, and regions of origin. I checked with Janette on Hannah's personal DVD player. She had left it in the van. As far as essential equipment goes, the DVD player rates just under the ventilator. I ran back to grab it. Hannah passed an hour in Laurie Berkner bliss.
Waiting Room #3: Surgery Prep 8:40 a.m.
Both Janette and I accompanied Hannah to the surgical prep area. Laurie was still entertaining (plus the verced was kicking in). We traded notes with the anesthesiologist, reminded everyone about her PFO (heart condition), warned against the big three: No Bleach, No Iodine, No Latex. Hannah is allegric to them all. The surgical doctor, someone we've worked with several times before, popped out to describe the exploratory abdomen surgery. We shook hands, caught up a bit, and left Hannah in his care after kisses and goodbyes-for-now.
On our way out, a nurse offered us a pager: a new service. "When this starts buzzing, head back to the Family Waiting Area. Dr. Xs schedule is very full today, and we'll need you back there quickly."
I chuckled. We weren't amateurs, I thought. But she was quite serious. I accepted the pager with all due seriousness, and Janette and I headed to the next waiting room.
Waiting Room #4: Family Waiting Area 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Well, several families either did not have pagers or did not return on time, missing their doctors' updates. Score one for the nurse. I got it.
Janette and I hung out in the waiting room. I made (the second) coffee run. We traded for bathroom trips.
We met another mother here - a mother of newborn twins. We chatted with her through an interpreter (though I still can understand some Spanish, I don't speak it well). One of her daughters seems to be on a road familar to us, so we gave advice (Medically Fragile Children's Unit and other services) and perspective/hope. I think she received both well.
A nurse updated us on status about halfway through our wait. Hannah was doing well, sleeping comfortably. Dr X had found the cyst, but was still searching for a cause.
The update did surprise either of us, I don't think. Hannah seems to prefer the elusive and exotic.
Around 11, Dr. X met us in the Family Waiting Area. He shared his findings (and pictures, which he knows Janette loves). The cyst was removed and then some (we'll edit a bit here for Hannah's privacy). The cyst will be checked out, but is probably not malignant (he saw my look as he ranked malignant for this type of cyst as really rare - "I know what you're thinking, Dad, this is Hannah, but...."
Waiting Room #5: Post Op Room 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
So far, so good, considering. Hannah's been through a lot today. Mom went in first to set up the home ventilator. She had someone grab me about a half hour later, and I joined her and Hannah. Hannah's pain was spiking and ebbing. Appropriate meds were given. I sung. She relaxed some.
The nurses and RT tried to figure out when Hannah could be released to the floor. Most of Dr X's instructions basically said "do what Hannah's parents say" (we really like this doctor - he acknowledges our expertise in all things Hannah. Not wrecklessly - he and team will still assist us with decisions, but he certainly takes our input very seriously).
Finally, we got things figured out and Hannah headed up.
Floor: 12:30pm
Hannah makes it to her room which she shares with another child. Janette chats up Hannah's roommates' family. Hannah sleeps. I turn on the news as Janette forages to the cafeteria.
***
Tonight, Hannah is doing okay. The pain is a bit much, but we're moving from the really, really strong drugs to the just-strong drugs. Trying to take her down a bit if she can manage it. She's sleeping quite a bit, and I expect that to continue into tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Gabriel and I are home, and Janette is hanging out with Hannah. Gabriel sounds like he has fallen asleep next door. Janette and I have shared our phoned goodbyes for the night. And I am headed to bed.
-- Dad
