The day has begun

It's 6:30 am, and they just wheeled Mike up to the main hospital operating where he will meet the anesthesiologist, get his IVs started, and prepare for the 7:30 surgery start time.

We had an early morning, leaving the house at 4:40 for the trip into Seattle. While there wasn't any snow (which had been predicted for this morning), we drove through lots of sleet and freezing rain. But the traffic was blissfully light and we arrived plenty early for the 5:30 check-in. We had about an hour together in the pre-op area where they asked all the same questions Mike's been asked a million times: Do you have diabetes, are you allergic to any medications, and our personal favorite, "Do you have anything in your body that doesn't belong to you?" Say what?? Yes, that's a real question they asked! I guess it has to do with things like access ports, piercings they can't see(!), etc. Thankfully he could answer with a definitive "no!" The chief resident, Dr. Bhrany, came by to review the basics of the surgery again and answer any questions, then they wheeled Mike off to the OR.

So now I am in the Main Hospital Surgery Waiting area (not the Surgery Pavilion as I had originally thought). Dr. Bhrany said the standard ending time for this surgery is about 6:00 PM, but I will post any time I get news from the OR.

Thanks again, everyone, for your good thoughts over the weekend and today.