The waiting room...

Today I thought I would write about the things you need to survive the waiting room and at a later date continue with the recovery and the trip home.

To survive the waiting room:

You need your Mom. It's like most say in certain situations "I want my Mommy!" and in these situations…trust me, you do. They're also great at keeping you on a tight food schedule and let's face it, no one knows you like you're Mother - you can't lie to her (well you can...but it's not recommended). Your Dad - preferably a stocky 6ft German fellow that can hold you up, keep you going and somehow amongst all the chaos remain consistently in a state of reality. Your Sister - for those shoot a look across the room and they know exactly what your thinking moments. Your Brother - as your body guard. And last but not least a sprinkling of 30 or more friends!!

I remember being overwhelmed in the beginning. I felt crowded, uncomfortable and monitored. I was fighting something and it just so happen to be I was choosing to fight the wrong thing. As time went on and the surgeries kept coming I realized I was the most fortunate person in the whole waiting room. I had my pep's surrounding me, waiting on me hand and foot, and there at a drop of a hat to console me. I also realized they needed to be there not just for me but for themselves and of course Mike. I think back now and if I would have had to sit in that waiting room alone for all those surgeries I would have gone running. It's scary! Your heart skips at a rapid pace when you see the Doctor coming your way. Every time the phone rings you glance over hopefully incase the nurse waves you over. Your afraid to leave (even to pee) because there could be that small chance you will be needed.

One time myself and the entourage were called by the nurse at the desk to go and meet the Doctor on the 4th floor. When those cold aluminum doors opened we were expecting to see the Doctor, but we didn't. We saw operating tables. We watched nurses and surgeons walk by and ask us quizzically "are you guys lost?". I felt frozen in time. If I didn't have the support group I did on that day I never would have gone back to the hospital and surly not alone. Mikes life flashed. I remember my throat tightening (now as I type it's doing it again), I remember going limp and falling to the floor because in what was really 10 min's of waiting felt eternal and because no one seemed to know why were on the surgical floor our thoughts came as sharp pains thinking something horrible happen to Mike. Turns out it was all a misunderstanding. The Doctor whistled around the corner gasped at our reaction and comforted us all as he relayed how well the surgery went. This is when your support group really comes in handy because to this day I remember the Doctors mouth moving, I remember his hands gesturing but I can not for the life of me remember what he said but my entourage was all over it! They were already taking notes.

As time went on we got good at taking up all the room in the waiting room. Ordering pizza. People coming and going in shifts. It actually became routine and I became more and more comfortable with it. So much so that I would be a lost puppy without everyone should it ever happen again.

I also found it helpful to have soothing music for when you do need that moment to yourself. Maybe a book or a craft to keep you busy. A barf bag (just in case). I have never thrown up but I always feel I need to at some point during the day so better safe then sorry. Take walks. If you leave the waiting room just make sure the nurse knows how to get a hold of you. Eat. And most importantly pace yourself. Remember this is only the start. There is a long road to recovery ahead.