April 4th, and there is lots of crunchy snow as we head out at 8 am to St. Mary’s Hospital for my day surgery on my lymph glands. Howard is being his usual supportive self, and is at my side all day long. First there’s waiting, then registration., and a thousand questions. Nurse impressed that at my age I take no medications! More waiting and more questions. I get to discard all the extras in or on my body. I can keep my artificial knee, hip and silicone implants!! No body piercings, contacts or false teeth allowed. Finally, it’s just me and my ravishing hospital gown. I get a “station” put in my hand, and I settle in for more waiting. Howard reads all the latest news stories to me, which helps to pass the time. Finally, I get wheeled into surgery. It’s cold in there, but they give me a warm blanket. Heaven. Everyone is so pleasant yet professional. Next thing I know, I wake up in a recovery room. The pain in my neck, is excruciating, but the nurse is right there with a pain killer which I feel surging through my veins almost immediately, and except for the nausea, feeling much better in my groggy state.

Eventually I get put in a wheel chair, and Howard navigates, mostly successfully, around IV poles, walkers, other wheel chairs , etc. We manage to make it to the car, and Howard drives like a nascar racer to get me home as quickly as possible. With my barf bag in one hand, and hanging on for dear life with the other, we make it home in one piece! I fall into bed, but a few hours later, I have the most fantastic homemade noodle soup ever, made by my extraordinary, superwoman daughter. The paper with a list of instructions from the hospital suggests that I make no important decisions for 24 hours. That doesn’t keep us from having an animated political discussion, and of course in my drug induced state, an enlightened viewpoint.
Now there’s more waiting! Before I receive further treatment, they have to wait for the pathology report, so that I can have exactly the right kind of treatment. That’s another 2 weeks at least!!
A long time for someone who’s as impatient as I am!

It’s now the next day, and yes, I am on painkillers, and I have a sore neck, but I’m totally lucid, I think!
If the above sounds too much like Sarah Palin, just ignore!
It’s a beautiful sunny day, and I’m grateful to be alive! Now for a nap…

xo,
Maggie