So THIS happened on the way to the OR

 It was my surgery date.

I arrived and registered in admitting (8am),

received a blessing and anointing from my pastor

and was wheeled to the pre-op area

where I got an IV placed.

Consents were signed for surgery.

I was given 2 extra strength Tylenol

and Oxycontin,

"to help with uptake of the medication" during surgery.

Then I waited for my Surgeon to finish his first case.

He came in right at 10,

looking not great - 

and he was leaning against the door frame 

as he stood in the doorway.

When he started speaking, his voice was barely audible;

it was raspy and strained.

He stated he had only cancelled 2 previous surgeries in 39 years of practice;

I was to be the third.

 

He felt awful

"but it is not in your best interest to have me operate on you this morning".

He struggled through his first case -

although he assured me (and himself)? that that patient was going to be fine;

but he was too ill to do another surgery.

I was to go home, he was going home

 and his office would call and reschedule my surgery 

when he was feeling better.

 

Here's the thing.

I've worked in a hospital for 4 decades.

I know the physicians are as human as anyone else;

they get sick.

They deserve some grace while they get well.

 

I appreciated his honesty, even if disappointed with the outcome.

My IV was pulled and I was sent home.

The Oxycontin lasted long enough for me to do grocery shopping

(since I had nothing in the house - 

since church members were graciously supplying meals for the next 3+ weeks.) 

 

I've been gimping along waiting for surgery to be rescheduled.

I'm now back on the OR schedule for 9/8. 

Fingers and toes crossed -

we'll all try again.

 

I've had energy to sit on the deck and watch storm fronts roll in,

cheer this one on as he starts preschool

and wonder how in the world my house became inhabited by an old person??

Surgery next week ... we'll try again!