Today's the Day

Tuesday, May 11, 3:30 am.  On behalf of Aimee (hubby here), what originally looked like a long twelve months of braces has flown by and today the start of another adventure begins.  The day began very early for us, alarms going off at various times between 3 am and 3:30 am trying to prod us out of bed.  Again, we thought we had plenty of time to leave the house and get to admissions by 5:30, but there's always last minute things to do.  Animals fed, house secure, car packed with every item needed for 3 days in the hospital, we headed out at 5am.  Traffic in DC is great at that hour.  Made it in 20 minutes.  Registered and signed in by 5:40.  Then it was off to admissions.  After a little waiting, we were ushered off to pre-op by 6:30.  There the pace picked up.  Aimee changing into her stylish but understated hospital gown, the anesthesiologist stopping by and inserting the IV.  Another anathesiologist stopping by.  A parade of nurses and then the surgeon, Dr. Posnick.  All asking the same litany of questions over and over and over.  We could only assume that they wanted to ensure that they worked on the correct body part when the time came, but really, Aimee only has one jaw so it's not like they could get that wrong.

Paperwork signed, all questions answered, and the time is now 7:40.  The surgeon informs us that the procedure will start about 8:30.  It should last 3 hours.  After that, Aimee would be in recovery for 2 to 3 hours as they monitor her condition.  Then she would be moved to ICU for at least 24 hours of round the clock care.  The time has come for Aimee to go.  The anesthesiologist injects the first of the drugs to carry her off to a blissful sleep.  Took a second, but her eyes slowly became larger, a smile came across her face, and then she broke out into song. Yes, singing.  Everyone bid goodbye and began wheeling Aimee through the doors marked "Authorized Personnel".  The doors began to close and Aimee's song faded down the corridor.