Surgery Day 1 ~ Balancing Your Mind and Soul for an Event of a Lifetime!

Surgery Day 1 ~ Balancing Your Mind and Soul for an Event of a Lifetime!

Emotional battle behind me, ready for the surgery of a lifetime – Panniculectomy with muscle tightening (Abdominoplasty), checklist in hand, out of the door, into the car, to the Surgery Center, excited … right???? Well, so I thought … lolll

Checklist (Surgery Center )

Insurance card

My portion of anesthesiologist charges ($520.00)

My portion of Surgery Center charges ($400.00 – already paid)

My portion of Surgeon’s charges ($3,000.00 – already paid)

*It should be noted that Brenda, Palmer and Tammy worked so diligently to help me with the regulations of my new insurance carrier, or this surgery might not have happened. They have my undying gratitude for their diligence, their tenacity, their compassion and their remarkable ability to remain so human in an insurance industry that does everything it can to lead us to act as robots within confines that seem to be unbendable. Thank you for being flexible and for letting your hearts shine through to touch another’s life so profoundly!

Medication list

No jewelry, make-up, perfume, deodorant or anything that might make you look like you weren’t entering jail.

Large comfortable clothing (Yuck – thought those clothes were behind me; was hoping to wear tight fitting stylish clothes to show off my girlish figure! :] )

Ranae’s Checklist

Cell phone

Email from the gentleman who started the epiphany (carry it with me always, it is inspiring and gives me hope … “I know you have presented to me a great heart and passion for our customers and for that I am very grateful.” “I have appreciated your help and support and admire what I have gotten to know about you very much.”)

Email from the new young man in my life (carry it with me always, reminds me I am loved for me … “I admire your faith and determination. Masha Allah.” A BIG HUG for my Raney. Luv u. tc.”)

DailyStrength T-shirt (to give me strength and remind my of my new friends – they sent it to me when my father died in February as I was preparing to give a talk on weight loss to a group of their peers in March – it was very kind of them)

When I arrived at the Surgery Center of Des Moines-East, thought my nerves and emotions were under control; especially after the previous 2 ½ days of soul searching. (If you haven’t already read two blogs before this one, you may want to scroll down and do so … ) However, when I arrived, couldn’t sit still and found myself pacing back and forth and I realized some underlying nervousness still existed. Having the surgery postponed for another hour didn’t make the time pass easier, but knew it was all in some great plan for my day.

After signing my life away and wearing the only jewelry allowed, my lovely name band with my medication allergies, it was only moments before I heard “Ranae Whitmore” and I bravely walked through the door leading to my new life!

Wearing my lovely blue gown, blue paper shoes and hat (and they were gracious enough to allow me to leave my bangs out until they put me to sleep ~ not sure what I thought that did for me, but it did help the way I felt about myself). Karen, my pre-surgical nurse, saw my teeth chattering … kind of a shocky thing that happens when you’re scared, brought me the lightest weight paper blanket with plastic tubes, similar to those found in a raft that is used in a swimming pool. She hooked up a machine that looked like a rectangular shop vac and it filled the tubes with the warmest air and very quickly the chill was gone as I was as warm as toast. What a wonderful invention and I certainly thought I should be allowed to take it home …

She then continued by starting my iv, explained my post-surgical instructions and completed her duties before the others came to visit. Karen was kind and thoughtful and so very gently attended to my every need, including the box of Kleenex for my eyes that just seemed to overflow with emotion. The fact we shared our birthday, was a special gift of closeness we shared on that momentous day!

I met Jason, the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), first. Young enough to be my son, (as I’m beginning to realize most of them are), I had only two questions.

(1) How will you know I am really asleep and not feeling any pain ~ I’ve heard stories. He gently smiled and stated that usually happens when one of the tanks is empty and the anesthesiologist or CRNA does not realize it … he assured me my tanks were full.

(2) Through tears, I explained I had worked very hard to accomplish this 137-pound weight loss and to be at a point for this surgery; I was now entrusting my life to him as I had many people to repay for their kindness and many who needed the help that was so graciously given to me. This kind and caring young CRNA assured me he would take care of me and that we would see each other after the surgery; I wonder if he knew how his demeanor had eased my anxiety and left me feeling as comfortable as one can who is about to undergo surgery.

My next encounter was with my plastic surgeon, Dr. Cherny, a most affable man you would not guess to be such a talented and brilliant surgeon. He had me stand and, with all modesty gone, opened my gown and lifted my tummy in his hands and drew blue lines with his magic marker. He gently told me we would be able to do much with this and that he would do everything he could to make my tummy flat. He gave me a huge comforting hug and as I thanked him, I began to cry.

He held me tighter and told me he knew I had waited a long time for this … he knew the weight loss had been done the old fashioned way, with hard work and no previous surgical intervention to aid in the process. As Dr. Cherny hugged me gently and firmly, I whispered through tears, in a voice barely audible, that I had waited a lifetime and I couldn’t begin to thank him for what he was doing. He told me he knew … and that every so often he knew his work would change a life and I explained …through words that were hard to say since my voice kept breaking … it would change mine!

As I hugged my mother and one of my best friends, Jerry, and was lead away to the surgery suite, I believed I would see them again … although I was keenly aware of that some people do not survive. As I laid on the operating table and Jason smiled down at me and said, “Well, I think we should get this started.” I asked, “Does get this started mean get me tired or knock me out?” His eyes sparkled with a hint of orneriness and he said, “Knock you out.” I said, “Like my lips getting numb?” Jason said, “Yes.” That’s the last thing I remember as I drifted off to sleep; what comfort I felt as I entrusted my life to these caring compassionate people.

This is it for today … but more to come in the following days...

Take care my friends, and BELIEVE … your dreams WILL come true as well … I promise!!!! YOU JUST HAVE TO ALLOW THEM TO!!! It is your life and the journey itself is the measure of your days! Enjoy them … they are fleeting … and the knowledge gained is greater than reading all the encyclopedias, in all the libraries. in the entire world!

Remember, I am here to support YOU in any way I can … it is an honor and a privilege

Sunshine wishes … and heartfelt hugs … always …

~ Ranae ~