Surgery day

Monday – 11/7/11 – Sorry there is no short version of this day

The big day!  We put on our #Habs rally shirts (another story on its own).  Ken’s brother Trev came for support.  Had to be at hospital for 12:30pm prep.  Surgery set for 2pm.  Couldn’t drink or eat after midnight Sunday.  Not pleasant for Ken who loves water through the night and a lot during the day.  Found out they are only taking a biopsy of tonsil and tumour.  Based on what the CT scan showed, they aren’t removing anything.  A pathologist was on standby to make sure Dr. Conlin took a big enough sample to test.  It usually takes 7-10 days for results but calling for fast track.  Once Ken had his iv in I was able to go back and keep him company.  He looked so cute in his blue hospital ‘hat’ and sleepy with his ‘Ativan’ J.  They took more blood tests.  Apparently his platelet counts were low last time (only 61, normal is 150-400).  Anything around 50 and they wouldn’t do the surgery.  Good news.  They were up to 75.  Again, impressed with the new section of the hospital compared to the old one.  The patient before us took longer so 2pm surgery turned into 3:30pm when they finally took him in.  The OR nurse turned out to be a past client so that was comforting when she took him away.  Thank goodness for texts and BBM so I could keep in touch with the outside world wondering what was taking so long.  Back in the waiting room was a long wait.  Trev, Sarah and Auntie Charm were there to keep me company.  One by one other people waiting left with their loved one.  But no Kenny.  Then we were down to the last few groups.  We were all like vultures when the door would open…mine? mine?  Nope.  Finally 5:15 came (surgery was supposed to be an hour) and Dr. Conlin came through the door.  I was like ‘yeah I can go back now’…but no…she was looking to see me and it wasn’t to take me back to Ken.  She told me Ken had done awesome, reacted well to the anesthetic and was in recovery.  It took longer cauterize the incision because of the platelet count/clotting factor. 

THEN SHE SAID THAT WORD.  "It’s CARCINOMA".  I’m like Woah…what happened to 7-10days to tell me…I’m not ready for this yet!  She gave me a rundown of what to expect in the next few days / weeks.  I comprehended most but it sounded more like the teacher in the “Charlie Brown” comics ‘Wah Wah Wah Waaah’.  She gave me a big hug and I remember worrying that I was stabbing her with my poppy?!

I updated the rest waiting with me in the hallway and made the long walk back to my chair past the other people waiting.  Luckily my back was to them.  Little by little it started sinking in.  ‘Don’t cry…you won’t be able to stop plus have to be strong for everybody else right?!’  I tried texting a few people but it was too blurry through the mist.  The words seemed so cold via text.  Or did they bring it closer to reality?  I wasn’t ready to use ‘that word’.  Amy was on her way up because my ‘I’m fine but the poker face is getting harder’ comment didn’t work with her J.  And then that damn door opened again…but this time I heard ‘that laugh’…and I’m like oh yes…that’s mine!  And there was Ken…looking quite fabulous and his normal chatty self. 

He had to stay overnight because it was late and they wanted to watch for any bleeding.  My girls and I raced (via the stairs thank you Sarah! hehe) to catch up with him.  We were sent to a waiting room until the nurses did their checks on him.  Ken’s Mom was there now too.  Finally, I was allowed in.  In true Kenny fashion he was getting the nurse to order cable and asking for my credit card!  He was enjoying the liquid dinner they gave him (no ‘cab sav’!).  He then says, ‘well that’s round 1 over’.  I thought OMG you don’t know.  How do I do this?  So we had our moment while I filled him in.  The others had their visits and left.  Amy stayed with me until the nurse kicked us out at 9:30pm.  She stayed at our house that night (thank you).  Went to bed hoping to fuzz out the day flipping channels but the stupid cable was out so my ipod had to do.  What a long night.  I missed my ‘pillow’ L

Back 1^st thing the next morning to bring Ken home.  Dr. Conlin was in with him already.  They needed a few days for the lab results to see how fast the tumour cells were growing.  That will tell them how to proceed.  She was going to refer him to a colleague in London who specializes in robotics.  We would also have a team of other doctors, dieticians, social workers etc.  She wouldn’t give us his name until the referral was accepted.  But I was OK…I love google and I’d find out!  Ken’s first request was an egg mcmuffin but wasn’t allowed toast yet.  So off to the grocery store for some yummy goodies.   It was so nice to be home – together.  But how to jump back into the real world that had suddenly changed since we left it last?!  And that’s what we did because that’s who we are!

Next post – HOW WE MET 'THE ROBOT KID' (11/14/11) and we had hopes of surgery!

xx

S