I woke up shortly before the alarm went off at 4:45. I had to shower again before going in. I was tired, which was a good thing. I was also incredibly excited. It was actually going to happen- TODAY. No more waiting for phone calls, no more being nervous that anything was going to stop it. IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
We got to the hospital right before 6am, and didn't have to wait long before being brought back to the preop room.
Cathy was my pre op nurse. She asked what I was in for (they all ask that to make sure I'm aware of what is going on, and that I'm the right person.). I told her. Guess what she told me? That she'd donated a kidney 7 years ago. Of course, right? Who else would be my pre op nurse? Not only has she donated, but she had a hysterectomy first. In my head, that's all I could say "OF COURSE she's had both surgeries!" I grilled her for a half hour about which surgery was harder to get over. She agreed with the others that the kidney was easier to recover from and that she's never had an issue with only one kidney. She said I'd be sore for a few day and then I'd really notice the healing happening.
The drug peeps visited me, I let some newbie poke around trying to get an IV in before her more practiced counter part gracefully stepped in to get it done.....then the surgeon stopped by to say hi. The druggies came back to hit me with something fun, and I made Cullen kiss me when I got all nice and fuzzy on the way to the OR.
I don't remember much after that, except I did get to say thank you so much for everything all of them were doing. I remember someone thanking ME, and then it was nighty-night for me.
I hurt right away when I woke up, but they hadn't numbed my stomach for me just yet. The nurse made me cough right away which was an experience that can't be replicated unless you've had your insides moved around and cut out. It sucked. Then they numbed my stomach which helped. The sleepy meds were harder to shake off this time. Surgery went very well, it was shorter than planned, and when they came out to tell Cullen that I was being sewn up, my kidney was already in the air, on the way to Fargo!
I am so fuzzy on so much for the rest of the day, kinda---- the meds kicked my ass...I remember that the girl I was sharing a room with was concerned, but I hear a nurse say "she's a donor and she did great!" and I felt better (wondering if something was wrong with me, after hearing the concern in the girls voice). I slept a lot. I still had the catheter in so I didn't ever have to think about getting up, which was good, because OUCH. The funnest was answering nurses questions about who it went to and getting to talk about how come I wanted to in the first place. I loved my nurses. THANK GOD FOR NURSES!
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