Here is something I really do not like… the pre-op waiting room. I’ve probably said this before… Mark just asked me if I was worried or just bored. Neither. This part of the day just kind of shuts me down. One year I went through six surgeries in four months. They had the surgery and I sat in the chair. When that sixth one came around… ugh… Mark was with me that time and for some reason they initially told us only one visitor could come back to the pre-op area. It might be unnatural for me – but I volunteered and thankfully sat outside those doors hoping to never enter them again. I was rather surprised at the relief I felt. Of course a few minutes later they came and got me at which point I was grateful to be back where I belonged… but it really is the worst! I do not know the number of surgeries, colonoscopies, biopsies, port placements…. on and on. Am I complaining? Yes, just a bit. Smiling at the absurdity of spending so much time doing something I dislike so much.

One of the hardest things… I am usually cold and uncomfortable on the hard chair and my family-member-patient usually gets to lay on a bed under the 3M Bair Hugger which is a blanket that inflates with warm air. I am always jealous. Bair Hugger Envy.

Here is a little more pre-op information to share. They do not hide the fact that this surgery will be a big deal. The tumor is large and in a difficult location. Dr. Jones spoke to us on Monday about “easing” the tumor away from the pelvic bone. Robert, his P.A. just talked to us about dissecting or peeling the tumor away from the femoral artery. There will most certainly be both long lasting and permanent nerve damage. He will lose his entire set of adductor muscles. They mentioned two activities which he will need to give up… water skiing and horseback riding. He pretty much gave up water skiing over 30 years ago along with many activities he enjoyed due to the bone tumor in his left leg. No horseback riding won’t have much of an impact on him either – he likes to watch rodeo but does not participate.

The great news is that he should be able to walk normally and take the stairs. I guess we don’t really need our adductor muscles if we aren’t guiding a horse.

We also learned that our doctor has an amazing tenor voice – at Harvard he was in the Din & Tonics – an a cappella singing group. Sounds like they sometimes sing in the O.R. Having worked as a circulating nurse I know how the mood in the O.R changes with different doctors and anesthesiologists. Their choice of music has a lot to do with it, but mostly their manner. I really like Dr. Jones and I know that his kind, intelligent and gentle manner has a huge effect of the entire team. Mark is in good hands.

I’ll include a photo I took of his latest MRI image as well as something that Mark found this morning and is calling his before-and-after.

…Well – they just came to get him and I am in the waiting room. I don’t mind the waiting room at all – now that we don’t have to wear a mask. I kind of appreciate the quiet time to myself. But I realize the thing I dislike the most about pre-op is the goodbye when he goes through one set of double doors and I go through the other…