"What's Said in the OR Stays in the OR"

Hi All:  Well it's been a good week since my surgery on Oct. 5 and I'm back online (but only for a short time) so I thought I'd share some thoughts with you.

**Remember, no matter what life throws at you whether it's an illness, a challenge or something else, you have the courage to get through it.** 

I love the signs that say "Have Courage" but always wondered, "how do you know you even have courage"?  Well, the answer is, first you need to encounter something you're afraid of or don't have a clue how to handle in order to access the courage residing within you.    

I had a breast biopsy done on September 26 and on Oct. 1 I received a call from my surgeon with the results.  Turned out it was a tumor (Invasive Carcinoma Breast Cancer).  The good part is they caught it in time and I will be okay.

The innovations made in Cancer detection and treatment have improved greatly over the years and we only have those who went before to thank for this.

I cannot say enough about the health care community in this country from the General Practitioners, to the Nurse Anesthesiologists, Anesthetists, Surgeons, Oncologists and PA's.  They work as a team and provide the best care possible for their patients.

To show you the great dedication and sense of humour I experienced as I laid in my hospital bed on Oct. 5 is as follows:  Two Nurse Anesthetists who looked surprisingly alike but were not related walked into my cubicle and introduced themselves.  They explained that they would be assisting the Anesthesiologist while I was in surgery.  They had a twinkle in their eyes as they reached for my hand and said, with a big grin that they were known as the "Knockout Twins."

What a hoot.  I thought my sides would burst with laughter.  Then the Anesthesiologist parted the curtains and introduced himself.  A roly poly guy with a big heart and a big grin.  He proceeded to give me his life story as to how he became a Doctor and then told me his name.  "Why", he asked, would a father name his kid Rocky with the last name of Stone"?  Again,we were all laughing. 

I thought I'd tease him a little and said, in jest, "I'm a little worried about what I might say when I'm under anesthesia.  Are you gonna repeat anything I said like, you know, how may affairs I've had, or that night with so and so and what we did because, if you do, I'm gonna deny all of it!"

He looked me straight in the eyes and calmly replied, "what's said in the OR stays in the OR." 

Boy, was I relieved. 

Without these selfless and dedicated professionals we wouldn't have Savie Devices being used in Breast Cancer Treatment or the bionic devices being developed for critical injuries occurring on battlefields, car accidents and other tragedies.

I have more surgery (precautionary) scheduled for next Monday (Oct. 15).  Then another pathology report and radiation treatment starts on Wednesday (October 17).

I have the courage necessary to get through all of this and so do you.

If you're going through something that's worrying you and wearing you down, remember, "you have the courage to get through it.  Don't sell yourselves short.  You've Got What It Takes!

I should know as courage and I have met on the battlefield of life and we're now working together as a team.       

~ Blessings,
          Nightshade