Road Trip to Carolinas Medical Center

Not that we had this Road Trip planned or anything, and actually it would be one that I would prefer not to have to take. Dad had a physical and routine colonoscopy done which showed a malignant tumor in his ascending colon. News that I found out about as I was sitting waiting to get off the boat in Florida. Not news that I wanted to hear. This was my Dad! When I got back to Raleigh, I had him send me the biopsy report and I talked to a friend at work who said that they would probably have him in surgery within two weeks and that everything that showed up in the report, was good (as good as it could be). Dad followed up with a surgeon and sure enough, had surgery scheduled for October 6th. First case in the morning so we were going to have to be there by 0530.

We got there, checked in and waited. Dad got called back to pre-op and we waiting until they had him ready and then we got to go see him before he went to the operating room. He was in his beautiful blue gown, IV started and now the waiting game. I think Dad would have preferred to be knocked out, rather than wait. We didn't stay long, so that Carolyn & Vicki could come back. They weren't back there long before he was off to surgery. We knew they were planning on taking 8-10 inches of colon out and surrounding lymph nodes. Approximate surgery time was 2 hours with another hour of recovery.

As we entertained ourselves in the waiting room, the lovely dog therapy lady came by with a Greyhound. Im not really much of a dog person, but I love greyhounds. I think probably because so many of them are euthanized every year. I guess I feel like I am saving their life? Anyways....she was cute, very well behaved and obvioulsy, posed for a picture with the crazy people! ha ha

The surgeon came to talk to us at 0937. Wow, under two hours and already out to talk to us! Yeah! He said he had taken 10 inches, didn't get a chance to look at the spot on his liver due to a build up of scar tissue but from what he saw he felt very comfortable about what he got. He anticipated him being in surgery for about an hour or so and then they would call us to meet him in his room.

They called us after about 90 minutes and told us we could head up to his room. 5131 (5 North), we sat in there for awhile and we were told his blood pressure had become elevated and that he would be up shortly. More time had passed and after about another hour I went to the desk to ask them to call and find out why he was being delayed. I found out that the RN was receiving report from the PACU and he would be up soon! As we waited and heard someone coming down the hall, I went to look. That didn't look like my Dad, but I can't see (even with my contacts) so I thought, boy anesthesia has sure changed him. As he rolled toward me I realized that wasn't my Dad. Thank goodness. But within a few minutes he came around the corner and they were wheeling him toward us. Now, that was my Dad. I'm sure he was just as glad to see us and we were to see him!
We were at the end of the hallway, which is kind of nice, no unneccesary traffic, no nurse station noise, no elevators, extra doors, etc. He was able to move from the stretcher to the bed on his own. They got him settled, as we waited in the hallway, hooked him up to his PCA pump and then we got to go back into the room.

He pretty much, was in and out of sleep most of the day. We attempted to entertain ourselves once again. We went down for lunch and left Dad alone for awhile.

Pam, fell asleep in the recliner, which I did obtain a photo of her mouth opening wide enough to catch a large mouth bass, however as I laughed hysterically, she took the camera and deleted the picture. But the picture remains in my head...I still laugh!

Dad did get to eat ice chips, and he is a very compliant patient. He was doing his incentive spirometry on Day 1. He will do exactly as you tell him.

Since the write-on board on the wall wasn't filled out, I helped out my filling out my board.

I should have put Nurse Ratchet but Nurse Betty was the first thing I could think of. Actually I was trying to find the name of Kathy Bates in the movie with the author who she captures and tortures but I couldn't remember her name. Hamburgers of course, because Dad was wanting one before he went to surgery! All in all he had a pretty good day!

I headed back to Raleigh around 1700. Lauren's birthday was tomorrow. Ill keep you posted!