My Stroke Story Chapter 5

I arrive at Washington Hospital center having gone all around the mulberry bush, through DC. It is a big place and we make a few circles before finding the correct front door. We wind our way through the hallways to find ourselves in the DMV. Wait no it was admissions. But the queue process was the same, as was the cheery expressions worn by those in the queue. LOL

Now back in the catheter lab, in my bay, I get to meet all my nurses. They are great as expected. I get to put on my gown. The style is typical, but I look great in it. Thinking that next Christmas we do our Christmas card portrait in hospital gowns. 

I do feel somewhat nervous. I recall a bible verse: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God  which transcends all understanding will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. That's good medicine. 

Just signing my release to be filmed. I will be a tv star! They are streaming the procedure across town to a symposium of doctors. I am unsuccessful at getting a cut of the proceeds, but work a deal on a copy so we can do a private viewing at home plus popcorn. 

After a bit of a delay I am off to the surgical suite. The room looks huge to me and chock full of equipment. They get me in place and begin the tickle torture. They shave my legs and I almost wiggle off the bed. No amount of my apologizing can control my response. The nurse overcomes my lack of control and they now perform this extensive ritual ensuring sterility. Appreciated. Then the nurse informs me it is time for sedation. Okay, I realize they must put me out gradually. The doctor starts inserting catheters in my leg... And begins to work. Suddenly this revelation floods my consciousness: I will be awake for this. What was nervousness now converts to sheer excitement. I feel like I fell down a hole into  some sort of engineer's nirvana. I watch and listen to the entire procedure. I obsess over two monitors. One is the camera inside my heart and one is an X-ray of my upper body. I can't understand all they talk about, but I barely miss anything on the screen. Every now and then the room is punctuated with a question from the little black box, an invisible doctor at the symposium watching me watching me. Finally it's finished and it's time to remove all the catheters and wires. Bleeding is now the concern. Because of the blood thinners, the largest nurse in the room tries to press my leg through the bed for 15 minutes to stop the blood. It worked and not a minute too soon. 

The doctor tells me the procedure was a success and the device was placed just right. It's all over now but the mopping up. In 24 hours I will be heading home to fight my babysitters for the chance to be more active than they want. 





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