Surgery

My best friend Nancy drove all the way from Wisconson to be with me and take care of stuff for me during my surgery time. She brought me to Seatlle Swedish Cancer Institute and stayed with me during and after the surgery. Dr. Golden performed the lymphadenectomy, bilateral tonsillectomy,  and excised some tissue from the base of my tongue. The operating room was about the size of a one-car garage – much smaller than I thought it would be. I also thought there would have been more people in the operating room. But it was just Dr. Golden, a nurse and the anesthesiologist. Dr. Golden said “Are you ready?” and before I could answer the bright overhead lights faded to blackness.  

I woke up in my hospital room five or so hours later with a six inch stitched up laceration in my neck and a drainage tube protruding from the right side of my throat. The drainage tube was filling a bag near my bed with blood. . . . nasty.  Even with the drain tube, during the first hour or so of being awake I threw up at least two pints of blood. If Nancy had not been there I probably would have whined a lot. But she was there, got to see me vomit blood and make jokes about it. I held on to my macho comedian mask as well as I could. Dr. Golden came in later to tell me that he found more infected tissue than expected and removed tonsils, a small piece from the back of my tongue, and eight lymph nodes instead of the anticipated six.  The gruesome result of the surgery left me unable to swallow without choking. I stayed in the hospital for almost a week recovering and learning how to swallow. It all seemed surreal. Like I was playing a part in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. 

Nancy brought me home and stayed with me for a few more days. I wish she could have stayed longer. Not because I need help. I just enjoy her company. Well more than that, I love her. . . something we don't talk about.