On the Mend

After long months of trying to figure out what was bothering her tummy, many sleepless, painful nights, and countless days of worry and anticipation, Bear is on the mend. Come to find out, she was blessed cursed with a faulty gallbladder just like her Momma, and her Grandma. Ah, sometimes lovely attributes run in the family, don't they?

Sooo, yesterday, that sucker got yanked out! It was the first real surgery Bear had ever had. The only other thing she'd ever been "put under" for was to get her impacted wisdom teeth taken out. To say the anticipation level was high would be an understatement.  You certainly couldn't tell by looking at her though!

Always the fashionista, she rocked the hospital gown and robe pretty well.

As with any surgery, it was a long day of waiting, and worrying, and it was especially strange that nearly everyone else in the family was spread far and wide across the country and couldn't be there with us. Pickle had to work, my Mom was visiting with my brother and his family in Texas, Hubby was in Kansas for work, and of course AJ is still in Indiana, finishing up his first year at Purdue.  Thank goodness for Bear's BF, Barry (nope, I didn't make that name up!) - he spent all day with me in the hospital waiting room, and was wonderful company. Having him there certainly made the day easier to get through.

On a little side bar...you know how things strike you as odd sometimes, right? Well, I'm not sure if you'll remember (so I'll refresh you about it) but when my Dad was going into surgery, the last thing I said to him was that I loved him and  "I'll see you on the other side" and he told me he loved me and said, "I'll see you on the other side of this."  As you know, those turned out to be the last words we said to each other. Well, yesterday, as I was with Bear for a short while as she was getting prepped for her surgery, there was an older gentleman in the room (and I use that term loosely because they were only separated by a curtain partition) next to her getting ready for a procedure.  Before they took him out for his surgery he'd asked to use the phone. Not that either of us were paying much attention to his conversation, but since only a curtain separated us, it was hard for Bear and I not to over-hear what was being said. After a minute or two of talking, he wound up his conversation with the phrase, "Ok, then, I'll see you on the other end of this." Bear and I swung our heads around in unison and stared at each other. It wasn't exactly the same as what my Dad and I had said to each other, but eerily close. Close enough to give me chills. I didn't know what to think at first, but I settled in on the notion that maybe we overheard those words for a reason. Out of all of the ways that conversation could have ended, that man said something so close to what my Dad and I had said to each other....why? I've come to the conclusion that it was my Dad's way of letting us know he was there, and keeping an eye on things.

Things did go as expected, thank goodness, and all was well.  By mid afternoon Bear was out of surgery, had spent the required time in the recovery room and was ready to head home.

Other than the normal soreness that comes along with this type of surgery, she is doing remarkably well (thank goodness for pain meds!) She is getting plenty of attention and TLC from all members of the family, including the 4 legged ones!

I know in just a few days she will be feeling so much better, and will be able to start putting all of this behind her. 

Good riddance gallbladder. You will not be missed!