Surgery Day
On April 10, 1992 we arrived at the hospital at the crack of dawn. We were all extremely nervous.
I put on a hospital gown and was given a pill to help me relax (I think they gave my mom one too!). As I was falling asleep some doctors put the IV into my arm. The next thing I remember is being wheeled to my room. My mom and dad were trying to talk to me, but because of the anesthesia it sounded like they were screaming. Thus, my first words after surgery were, "SHUT UP!"
My surgery lasted 6 hours. For the rest of that day I was completely out of it. Three metal rods with screws were put in my back to hold it as it fused. Bone was scraped from my hips and inserted between my vertebrae to make my spine act like one long bone.
I was extremely uncomfortable over the next few days. There was a good deal
of pain, I will admit, but luckily most of it was dulled by morphine. Thank
god for the drugs! I needed to be rolled from side to side every 15 minutes
with pillows propped behind my back.
I discovered that during surgery a catheter had been inserted which
explained why I never felt like I had to go to the bathroom! I slept a lot
and was woken for lots of blood tests, X-rays, physical therapy and
visitors. On or about the third day in the hospital I sat up and walked
three steps to a chair. This was
really
scary. I was convinced that my stitches would open and I'd bleed all over!
I practiced walking in my room and down the hallway. Not only had my back been cut open vertically from my neck to my behind, my entire center of gravity had been shifted. It took about a month for me to walk at a regular pace.
My mother was wonderful. She stayed with me in the hospital and never left my side. After a week I was wheeled to my mom's car and sent home. We both cried when we got in the car. We were so happy to be going home!