It’s All On The Table
September 2020
When Renee and I head off for a planned surgery I go into “auto pilot” mode. Silly to say that but it’s true & it works for me. I don’t fret, worry or look for a back door for escape. Oh don’t get me wrong, I despise doing this and if I over think things my outlook may be different but no, I really fear not!
Both Renee and I know without a shadow of doubt, God has this! He’s had me through countless surgeries and we trust even if I don’t come out alive, God has this too.
So Renee and I went into Providence Heart Center and checked me in. Renee has the hardest part, the long wait and this time it was a 6 hour long, long wait! The plan was 2-3 hours, huh, six hours and they rolled me out of what was a huge rough & tough battle of a surgery!
As the procedure began I was just put under anesthesia enough to keep me from panic and moving around too much yet still allowing my body to function easier. Even now I can still remember more than I’d like too.
My heart stopped 2 times during surgery, that I don’t remember! High fives for the pump and the makers of that little beauty. The surgeon had worked for those hours getting to the problem and thus put in 6 stints!!! Maybe there was a sale going on those stints at the supply house?
As I was rolled out I was awake, confused and all I wanted was someone to tell Renee that I was ok! They didn’t put me in recovery but instead I was taken to a ICU room where Renee was waiting and this would be my home for several days. My condition was fairly poor and I was already hurting. My aka Renee’s kidney had taken a huge hit from massive contrast dye used to see inside of me, super bummer, but I was alive and hopeful.
Upon going home I was doing well, walking and yes peeing! That awesome kidney Renee gave me over 20 years ago was standing tough! I was bruised, actually blackened from knees to belly from all the ugliness of this surgery.
Again, through all this Renee and I learned and grew! We are so thankful for the medical system and even more overcome with how good our gracious Lord is to us….
Time will tell how my heart does with these 6 stints. Who knows, maybe I’ll do so well they will use me for their poster child, ya right.
