Off To Theatre

Good evening everyone,

By the time many of you read tonight’s blog I will already be in surgery. After spending the last few days working on getting better and recovering from last week’s surgery, and the rollercoaster weekend, I was declared fit to undergo the remainder of my procedure at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Very early this morning I was awoken to find myself being the target of a mobile x-ray machine aiming at my chest. I felt very anxious waiting for the results of the images of my lungs, but before long the porter arrived with a brown envelope containing my slides and the radiologist’s report. The nurses and doctors crowded around the crisp white folio, and I watched their faces for clues as to its content. Gradually each one’s face lit up, and I knew my lung infection, the klebsiella, had receded.

Without delay I was booked into theatre and further decisions were made about my situation for the remaining day. I was comforted to hear that I would remain on the oscillating-ventilator for the remainder of the day, and until just before I went into surgery. This was a relief for me, as it still gave my lungs a further 24 hours to recruit additional capacity to increase my strength. The volume of my feeds were also increased to 55ml, for which I was really grateful, as not only am I feeling ravenous at the moment, but I’m beginning to feel that I’m withering away again. Although I’ve not been weighed for almost two weeks, I can see looking down at my little frame that I’ve become somewhat skeletal again.

My little leg that was at risk of being lost seems to also have endured the ordeal of the sheath and catheter lodged in it over the past week. Regularly my caregivers feel my leg for warmth, an indication that the blood is still circulating through the leg. Even though I am pretty drugged I also occasionally stretch and move my leg and wiggle my toes to reassure my Mom and Dad that my leg is not at risk of being lost.

The options for tomorrow’s surgery remain the same as those reported last Saturday, and as soon as I’m able to I will give you all an update of what was done. In closing tonight’s short blog I would like to ask you all to say a little prayer for me when you read this blog tomorrow morning, as I lie in theatre. Also, send me lots of positive thoughts and lots of angels, archangels and guardians, for me and for my surgeons, that they take the appropriate actions and make suitable decisions.

Lots of love, hugs and kisses,

Jarrod

Tags: Dad, Mom