Where do I start?

Well, I’m back home, missing a few bit’s and pieces but I’m home and it’s time for an update. My operation at Sunnybrook Health Science Center was scheduled at 8:00 on the 14th of this month. Right off the bat, there was 3-hour hold up, seems our health system is so congested that once they operate they have to find somewhere to put you, so if there are no rooms at the inn then the operations can’t proceed.  They must have kicked someone out because at 11:00 they wheeled me in.

I want you to breathe deeply and exhale…

I guess this is the best part of having an operation, not the losing control but the part of acceptance that your life is now in someone else hands. I liken anesthetic to going to sleep in your own bed, you fall asleep, next thing you know you’re awake unless you dream or toss and turn you could be dead, I guess that’s why when someone passes away in their sleep people say they went peacefully.  I digress, next thing I’m aware of is people calling my name Peter, Peter PETER, and I’m back. Everything is fuzzy but I’m alive.  My surgeon came to see me tells me everything went better than expected, the bladder was removed and there was no spreading of cancer and biopsy showed no further disease. 

How about that for good news readers…

Off to the 6th Floor, we go

Room 201 bed 3 – seems Sunnybrooks definition of semi-private is three to a room (men/women) private which I didn’t qualify for is taken now by patients with infectious diseases.  My roommates are a lady partially awake for the days and a guy who didn’t stop complaining for the next 4 days.  Trying to recover is bad enough but having someone in your room that wants to order everyone around is not good for your digestion – speaking of digestion I hadn’t eaten for 43 days by now and the start me on fluids,  Fruit juice and jello became the basis for my diet for a while.

Peace at last, peace at last…

Comatose lady moves out followed hours later by loud rude man, replaced by a poor guy in a fully comatose state who needs almost constant attention and a retired Scotsman who was good for a laugh and made the balance of my days in the hospital almost bearable.

Discharge day

I’m free, I’m having trouble walking but I’m free. Divina go gets the car as I hobble out to cool fresh air that I haven’t experienced for a week.

What did I learn?

• I found out that if this operation and the following care had been in the US it would have cost upwards of $450,000 even with a 10% deductible that’s 45 grand out of my pocket, probably more like 20% deductible given my age.
• Putting your life and day-to-day needs in the hands of health professionals isn’t easy, especially someone like me that likes to be in control sp ‘handing it over’ and accepting was good for me 
• Some patients can be ungrateful assholes 
• That I have so many friends who visited me and or checked in to see if needed anything.
• It is almost impossible to get comfortable in a hospital
• The new rodes they have don’t leave your butt hanging out like they used to.
• There are always people worse off than me.
• Hospitals can be a crazy place, noise. people rushing back and forth the constant ‘beep-beep’ of the machines and few places to hide to get away from it all.

In closing, it was an interesting experience – am I cancer free NO… Can I wear one of those T-shirts that say I kicked cancer’s butt and won! NO.. But with faith and you people,e I feel there is a chance I’m getting a little closer – One Day at a Time

Peter

PS: I may just go a fly a kite tomorrow…