It's a "Waiting" area ...

The principal of figuring the cost of a project and doubling the estimate must carry over to hospital waiting areas. Karen checked in at 7:30 AM this morning to prepare for a 3 hour procedure scheduled to start at 9:30 AM. At 12:15 PM I was told that they were finished inserting the necessary catheters in her primary vein and artery in the right leg. She was then wheeled to the main surgical area for the perfusion treatment, the one that's supposed to be three hours. I was transferred from one waiting area to another. “Oh my gosh”! The waiting area was comprised of six areas, each able to sit 20 + people. It was full. I checked in and settled in for the expected three hour procedure that was starting three hours late. My 6:30 AM breakfast was still holding its own so I had no complaint. After all, Karen didn’t get to eat anything at all today.

Did I say the Surgical Waiting Area is huge? I found it strange to have so much company and yet be alone. I’ve always been a people watcher and this was certainly a target rich environment. Listening to many of the conversations made me realize many were waiting well beyond the time they expected to. Many were waiting for their loved one to be assigned a room so they could go visit. I settled in for the duration. I knew the time would eventually come when they would call my name and I could go see Karen in her room.

Keep in mind the size of the waiting area and the number of people in it. I checked with the volunteer at 3:21 PM. They said they tried to find me at 2:00PM for a surgical nurse update. "They aren’t finished with the surgery", she said. Maybe I will get another update at 4:00 PM. I wait. At 4:00 PM I do get an update. The perfusion is complete and the doctor is cutting out some lesions and suturing. It should be over soon … “maybe and hour or so”. At 5:00 PM I receive a phone call from the surgical nurse. They are taking out more lymph nodes in Karen’s groin area. Surgery will continue for another 3 – 4 hours. Wow, this wasn’t planned. I didn’t have any additional information. I have to trust that the doctor knows what's best. At 6:30 PM I receive a phone call from the ICU nurse. She tells me Karen’s been in ICU since 4:30 and she would like me to come see her. Wait ... “Houston, we have a problem”. I could see breakdown in communication occurred somewhere. You can too I bet. To make a long story short, the doctor's message that he would be in surgery for another 3-4 hours got translated to Karen being in surgery for another 3-4 hours. Someone, I don’t know who, was having lymph nodes removed. It wasn’t Karen.

I made it to ICU in short time and got to see my bride. She is doing well, with the expected discomfort, and is excited and looking forward to the anticipated outcomes from the procedure. Obviously the results won’t be known for some time yet but we choose to trust the Lord on this one. Thanks to all of you who have been praying.

Oh, we did get to talk to the doctor. He says Karen will be in the hospital for a period of 4-7 days (barring any unforeseen happenings). Following her release the doctor will have arranged for a surgeon in Seattle to remove the stitches. We will have to return to Houston in 6-8 weeks for a follow-up exam. The doctor wants to assess how the cancer is responding to the treatment. I’m sure we will want to know too.

I’ve got to get some sleep. I have a full day ahead of me trying to keep Karen from going nuts in a hospital room. Those of you who know her well know she doesn’t do down very well.

Night All

Ken (for Karen)