Miasmatic Review

Surprise surgery

I was at work today when I received a call from Ktreva, she was being taken in for surgery.

SURGERY?!?!?!?!?

Then my world just kind of became a hectic swirl of activity...

This morning Ktreva left the house to go to Madison, to the UW Clinic for a consultation regarding her condition. The apparently the doctor decided after looking at her that he couldn't put of the surgery and had to do it today. Since this was supposed to be just a consultation, we decided I didn't need to go. Especially since someone had to take Clone to school and pick him up after.

So when I was at work gathering all the documentation and evidence to help cover myself for my little problem, I thought KTreva was just calling to tell me she was on her way home. When she told me she was having surgery I went into protective husband mode.

First I had to get to Madison, but I couldn't drive up there because I would have to drive her van back. That meant I needed to find someone to give me a ride. The problem is that Ktreva had my cell phone. She needed it for the nav system to find her way to the clinic. My cell phone is my address book. All of my numbers are in it. Using the internet to the best of my restricted ability at work I found what numbers I could to call for help. Which was only one active number for Wes. HE offered to help, but he had obligations he had to do that were a direct impact on his family so I decided to see if I couldn't find another option.

Thankfully my Dad was able to give me a ride and my mother was able to pick up Clone from School.

Then I had to finish getting some stuff at work to cover my arse. I'm afraid that the cleanup is going to start and I needed back ups of as many documents, e-mails and memos as I could. Fortunately I was able to get 80% of what I needed.

When I get up there Ktreva is waiting in the lobby. She had one surgery, but they where going to do another, deeper, surgery. Before anyone flies off the handle (much like I did), what she is having done is outpatient and didn't require any special outpatient followup other than take it easy. When they finished with the second surgery they called me in to explain what was going to be required of me.

A nurse explained to me that because they need to follow up in a week or two they can't close the wound, so they packed it and put a bandage on it. The nurse had to change the bandage and wanted me to see what I was going to need to do to help her, since Ktreva has limited use of her left arm right now. Before she uncovered the wound she starts describing what I'm going to see, so as not to surprise me.

The whole time she was talking, I kept thinking that I've assisted on autopsies, pulled bodies out of rivers and been to fatal automobile accidents... nothing is going to get to me. The she removed the bandage, and there on my wife was a HUGE gaping wound. I'm talking it is about 3 inches long, 2 inches wide and about an inch deep. Seriously, it looked like something took a huge bite out of her. I could see muscle and sinews. Folks, I about screamed like a little girl when I saw it. I've seen worse... just not on my wife. I didn't react at all mainly because I didn't want to concern Ktreva.

They gave me all the directions and care tips, and I watched as they rebandaged the wound. It was packed with a substance that, honestly, looked like the fake snow they spray on windows. To be honest, it was kind of festive for the time of year... if you where decorating a wound.

Right now Ktreva is home and fighting with me. She is supposed to take it easy and try not to move her arm too much, including no stretching, reaching or lifting anything. Anyone that knows my wife knows that she is anything but complacent with doctor's orders. She's doing fine, a little loopy on the pain meds, but doing fine.