We’re Home! (Kathy speaking)
What a good day! Ted had an honest night’s rest without waking up until 4:15, when he “hit the ground running”. I bet the lower neighbors thought he was back to traveling again (wink). So after his last shower for a few days and watching me eat a solo breakfast, to Danbury we went. I rather thought that Ted might be #1 since we were to be there at 6:15, and he was. I was amazed how few cars we passed at that hour of the day – it was as if you had prayed for the gliding of the hours that were to come!
The sheaf of medical notes had arrived from Dr. Gorwara’s office as well as from Dr. Grill’s office. I was taken aback to hear the term “thrombocytopenia” with the word chronic in front describing Ted’s blood. For those of you who have known us for years, you might remember that each of our sons was born with “petechiae thrombocytopenia”, a condition in which a dangerously low platelet count caused internal, spontaneous bleeding. While I may be the one who genetically created the blood wars within their bodies at birth because of an HLA antigen factor, Ted now has a chronically low platelet count. You can’t imagine how reassuring everyone, from his anesthetist, Dr. Ropert, to his surgical nurses and doctors, was carrying all this information, as well as his cardiac history, into Ted’s surgery. And I can tell you that my prayers to be freed from fear as we have experienced these days has been answered……. Dr. Bazos arrived wearing his signature ball cap and pin-striped shirt, such a dapper man is he! And by 7:30 Ted was whisked away and my waiting began.
My phone call that all went well with the specifics of the shoulder surgery came before 9:00. There were bone spurs and fragments that must have caused pain over the years that Dr. Bazos removed or cleaned out. His rotor cuff was also torn. The doctor removed the frayed, jagged edges and inserted an artificial connector which Ted’s body will grow an attachment to and, to the best of my layman’s understanding, Ted’s surgery was completed with no complications. Alleluia!!!
With his recovery nurse (Kyle, by name – how cool is that!) who has such a calming and efficient manner, Ted’s time in the recovery room went smoothly and by noon we were home, having lunch, changing the ice bags in the supporter around his surgical site, beginning the regiment of pain medication, and taking a nap. I even feel like a new woman! Your uplifting thoughts and prayers have surely carried us through these hours. God is so good to us!
I will indeed take a photo of Ted in his lounge chair – I bet he’ll be smiling! And I will be honored to be sleeping on the sofa with his chair pulled close just so I can be nearby during the recovery nights ahead!! Now off for a short walk with the “one armed man” and a bowl of chicken rice soup for supper!
Thank you, thank you, precious friends!
