I wiped silent tears from my cheeks as I watched trees and open fields wiz past the window. It was Wednesday, July 24 and I was on my way to Johns Hopkins for my pre-operative evaluation and first meeting with the plastic surgeon assisting in my case. We had to drive up the evening before to avoid leaving terribly early to make the appointments on Thursday. I had been fine earlier in the day, but when it came time to leave, the weight of everything was suffocating. I did not want to leave work early. I did not want to leave my fur babies. I did not want to sit in the car for 5 1/2 hours. My frustration presented itself in the form of tears as we left town.
Thursday morning I woke up nervous, but with a clear head. There are many things in life that we do not want to do, but have to, especially for our health. I sipped on DripDrop ORS all morning to make sure I was more than hydrated going into my pre-op testing (P.S. I was super hydrated. Thanks, DripDrop!). My pre-op appointment took around two hours between waiting and going through my entire medical history. This left us barely any time to grab a few bites of food and run to my appointment with the plastic surgeon assisting in my case. I wiggled nervously in the waiting room. The day had been an exhausting blur of "hurry up and wait" so far and I still had bloodwork to complete after my appointment with the surgeon.
After talking with a few other members of the plastic surgeon's team, he appeared through the door. I listened carefully as he explained the surgery. My stomach was twisting with nerves, but I tried to maintain a calm demeanor for the sake of taking in as much information as possible. After explaining the surgery, it was time for my questions. I worked through my list of questions from recovery time to what the scars will look like. This was probably one of the best experiences that I have had when first meeting a new doctor. My surgeon was attentive, polite, and reassured me that everything was going to be okay.
Following my appointment, it was down to labs for my pre-op testing. Throughout all of my appointments that day, I was reminded of something that I had learned long before: the men and women behind The Johns Hopkins Hospital are truly incredible. Going through medical difficulties can be so scary and isolating. To be made to feel special and supported through the challenging days means more to me than I can express. There have been countless nurses, doctors, techs, and more who have left lasting impressions on my life and I am truly thankful for that.
As I quickly approach my surgery date, I am really trying to take care of my body and mind. Going into surgery with a positive mindset can make a world of difference when it comes to recovery. The last month has been an emotional rollercoaster, but I am doing my best to turn my face towards the light always.
Sending so much love, light, and happiness.
