And The Beat Goes On

Yesterday, I had me eye surgery!! Ayy matey! I'll be looking like a pirate for the next week 🤣

My mom and I had a nice day, overall! Well...I did! She had to sit in a waiting room - but she made friends!! Ugh, I'm skipping ahead. Let's go back, shall we?

My mom came and scooped me up at around 10am. We didn't officially make the trek until about 10:30am! I decided to take my pre-afternoon nap during the hour and fifteen minute drive to UVA. I fell asleep wonderfully to the glorious sounds coming from K-Love.

Once the drive got a little bumpy with dips, I knew I awoke to being in a college town!

We arrived to the hospital and we both took a restroom break 😂 Yes, this story comes with knowing EVERYTHING! Then off to the elevators to the second floor! I did my registration around noon, and yes, I'm giving you times so you have the FULL understanding of how long we were there! The wonderful lady at the desk asked if I had extra people, aside from mom, with me. Mom chimed in and said, "no, the invisible people were left home!" At least the lady at the desk had a sense of humor! I laughed and said, "I can't take you anywhere!"

We sat in the patient waiting room FOR-EV-ER... There was a woman and a younger man sitting in front of us tying different knots into different size ropes. That's honestly the FIRST time I ever saw anything like that! Normally you have people on their phones, or people knitting/crocheting...BUT PRACTICING MAKING KNOTS?!? Nope! Haven't seen that before!

A few hours go by and I finally hear my name being called. I gave mom everything I had! Wallet, handkerchiefs, phone...you name it! I was starting to walk back and mom caught up to me and said I'm loved and being prayed over. She then gave me a kiss on the cheek! ❤️

The wonderful lady and I walked to the back and she was swiping her card to get through doors. She took me back to the Pediatric unit and said, "don't get too excited. You're not staying in the peds ward." 😂 Aww man!

She took me to my room and I met my RN there! The nice lady gave me the spiel about what gown to wear and where to stick my clothes. I asked her a silly question...when you say to take everything off - do you mean bra and underwear too? She said yes! But I didn't want to just assume that the underclothes come off too 🤣

My RN wanted me to use the restroom and give her some fluid in a cup. I swear, I feel the urge and as SOON as the cup comes near - it goes away!!

We tried this two separate times! Nada.

My RN went to put in my IV. First she tried the vein on the outside of the thumb - it rolled... So she checked the vein on the outside of your elbow and that wasn't strong enough. So she finally did the vein on the inner part of your elbow, which she doesn't enjoy using. But it worked!

She also gave me a nice, warm blanket as I was shivering from being cold!

I then met with the OR RN, the anesthesia doctor, the resident anesthesia doctor, and my ocular plastic surgeon! They all asked the same questions (which I understand- safety first!) and then they told me I only had ten minutes to go!!

The anesthesia doctor told me I would fully be put to sleep and then have a breathing tube placed down my throat. Since I have a trache scar she said they would need to use a smaller tube as the scarring might interfere! I was absolutely thrilled about it!!! People have told me that they usually keep you awake when doing work on your eyes. But, as my doctor told me, this is an actual SURGICAL procedure.

I tried using the bathroom AGAIN... but, no surprise, I couldn't go!!!!

The anesthesia resident started to roll me and the RN came in and said she couldn't do the urine pregnancy test. The anesthesia doctor said, "don't worry I've read her chart!" See I've already gone through menopause when I was in my late 20s... the resident rolled me back into the OR and the OR RN helped me onto the table and had me lay my head in the dip. The anesthesia resident placed a bunch of heart monitor patches on me and hooked me up to the machine where I heard a bunch of beeps. The anesthesia doctor placed an oxygen monitor on my finger.

I had to breathe into an oxygen mask to get my oxygen levels up. Once the oxygen levels were up, they put the sleepy time medicine into my IV along with the paralyzing agent so my body doesn't move!

I don't remember a thing once that hit I was in surgery for about an hour and a half.

Next thing I remember, is seeing a beautiful, cheery face!! She was my triage RN and took amazing care of me. She gave me a couple of warm blankets and then put a tube under my blanket that spurt out warm air! It was so nice 😊

She gave me some ginger ale in a cup, with a straw, and with Speech therapy teaching me - I could use the straw!!! Hooray!

Next up, I had to pee so bad 🤣 so she gave me a 'pure wick', which is a pad that suctions urine. Again, I couldn't go!! Stage fright! Plus I didn't want to feel like I wet myself. The RN assured me it's okay and that her body also does that at times.

She walked me to the bathroom, as I really had to go. I slowly sat up on the side of the bed to decrease dizziness, and she helped me to slowly walk across the hall!

Once done (yay!) I got to return to my super warm blankets. The doctor was walking around and the RN said, "she is good. She has recovered greatly from this. Her pain levels have gone from 8 to 4. I gave her this medicine and that medicine. She has already walked around. She doesn't need to be here." So the doctor released me and the post-op RN came to scoop me up and wheel me to another room!

I answered a bunch of questions, he asked me about my story - as a group of nurses gathered at my side - I told them all why I was even there. One fall, and my life has tragicallly changed. But I'm adjusting and taking it all day by day!

My mom was then called as he (my RN) thought it was the doctors number as he had a question about my medication. Then he realized it was not the doctor and laughed and told her he would come get her in a few minutes. 😂 He called the right number and got his answer for the medication!

He then grabbed my mom and as he was bringing her into the room he said, "and here's the doctor." I chuckled again!

He then wanted to get all of the monitor patches off of me and take the IV out of my arm. My mother turned away as looking would make her queasy. The RN said, "man doc, med school must've been rough!" And proceeded to ask me how I was feeling. I reassured him that before my accident I took my embalming final, so I was not queasy 🤣

IV came out and he gave me my bag of clothes all tied up in a knot. I questioned him about giving this challenge to a TBI patient and he laughed and cut off the strings! I then got dressed.

Getting closer to leaving! I asked what time it was and was told it was almost 7:30pm!!!

I. WAS. FLOORED!

My mom said that yes, it's been a long time but she made friends in the waiting room! Listed their names and everything!! My RN said that it takes a very special person to make friends in a patient waiting room!!

I then saw a package (medicine) stuck between the curtain held by a hand. My mom said it was the drug lord! My RN said ahh yes and he reached to grab my prescription.

I was officially released!! He granted my mom permission to get the car and we would wait a few minutes. The rest... I won't type. I'll let her share it if she wants to!

On the drive home my pastor called me. Two of my pastors were present and exclaiming how wonderful this was and how God is glorified through me. My pastor then prayed over me and my little family.

We didn't get home until about 9:30pm.... after leaving the house that morning at 10:30am...

For the next week, I have to sleep sitting up - no washing my face - no lifting anything above five pounds - I have to put an ointment in my eyes twice a day, or my husband does 😂 - and I'm sure there's more!! OH! And I have to wear the eyepatch pictured below!

If you've made it this far - congrats! And thank you :) I appreciate you!!!

The purpose of this surgery - since my accident I have not been able to close my eyes. The protective barrier in my right eye is now gone. We are helping my eye close again with the hopes that the cells to form a new protective barrier will regenerate. Once they do I can have the sutures from my eyes removed.

My husband helped me this morning and looked at my eyes.

Can you see me?

Close your eyes! And I did it!! He was celebrating with me :)

One small step for our new normal.