The Surgery

I was going to do a day by day accounting of what happened but frankly it will be easier to do it all in one fell swoop!

Sept. 16 we were met by the transport at 4:30 am. Yup, that's AM! Not at my best first thing in the morning (Ben can attest to that!). Thank goodness our liaison, Starlene Spencer, was at the hospital to meet us and walk Marcia through check in.

As I said before the Clinica Biblica is a very modern hospital in downtown San Jose.

Huge stained class window that covers 2 floors.

Not the nicest neighborhood but I think they serve a lot of the impoverished San Joseans. From the 3rd floor sky bridge you can see the beautiful mountains that surround the city.

The surgery happened on time at 7 am and by 9 am the surgeon, Dr. Oeding, came out to tell me everything had gone well and he was pleased. Good news! 

I was able to see Marcia about and hour and a half later in her room. 

I hung around for a bit but she was tired and so I headed back to the hotel. 

I had a little dinner in my room and turned in. About 10 pm I awoke with stomach cramps and nausea. Holy shit, Batman! I've got food poisoning! Great. I was up most of the night but managed to meet the van at 10 am.

Day 2- Sept. 17. 

Marcia was awake when I arrived and looking okay considering she had her knee replaced the day before. The nursing staff was fantastic! They carefully monitored her throughout the day and were always cheerful and kind. Can't say enough nice things about them.  

The physical therapist

I slept most of the day on the plastic couch in her room.

One of the nurses brought me a probiotic and hydrating drink. Didn't help much. After six hours I went back to the hotel as Marcia was sleeping a lot and there wasn't much for me to do anyway.

Day 3 Sept. 18
Today is the proposed day for Marcia's release from the hospital. I am really hoping she is well enough to get out. I'm still really under the weather but got to the hospital about 11:30. Marcia looks okay but not great.
Midday there is a knock on the door. "Come in". The door opens and a tiny, old woman with a cane shuffles into the room. "Hello. I am Estella. I am from Ecuador."
I'm thinking, "Uh oh. Grandma got out of her room again! Push the red button."
She asks Marcia, "What is your name?" "And yours?" She asks me. We tell her.
Then she tells us she has come to pray for us. Would we like her to pray us? Um...sure?

I have to admit I was hoping for a miracle and that my intestinal distress would disappear. But no such luck! Still felt like crap after she shuffled out.

Our liaison for this day was Kim. She took me to the pharmacy and helped me get some drugs for my ailment. I'm hopeful the antibiotics and pain reliever will speed recovery.  

Marcia was released about 4:30 and we endured another bumpy ride back to the hotel. Both of us were very queasy and it didn't help to be jostled and bounced around for 20 mins. 

Got Marcia settled in bed and I lay down too. About an hour later Joanna, the nurse, arrived to check her vitals & make sure we knew how to administer medications. The hospital had neglected to pack a syringe to administer one of the medications so Joanna left to get that while I went to the grocery store for some saltines so Marcia had something in her stomach when she took her medications. When I returned both Marcia and Joanna were sitting on the end of the bed waiting for me. 

Marcia said, "I'm going back to the hospital".

"Whaaat?" 

The oxygen in her blood was too low so off she went. Frankly, she hadn't looked good since we had arrived and I was glad she was being readmitted. We packed her into a taxi and I reluctantly opted not to go with her. By this time I was running a temperature and had the shakes. 

This was about 8 PM. At 11:30 she texted me to say she was on oxygen and they had given her a blood transfusion! Whoa! 

But I wasn't worried. She sounded a lot better and I knew she was in the best place she could be. 

Day 4 Sept. 19

I woke up late this morning but felt better. No fever at least. Hoping there is oatmeal in the vast array of tempting breakfast food in the restaurant. But no. I opted for tea...which is a huge challenge in a country known for it's fantastic coffee. It took nearly 20 mins. to get it. Each time I order tea the waitstaff looks confused. Like I'm loco in the cabeza!

Marcia looked much better once she had enough oxygen! The Dr. took her off it about noon but 45 mins. later she was back on. Just couldn't maintain good oxygen level. Bummer. By mid-afternoon it was decided that she should stay another night just to make sure she was stable. We were both glad.

   

Day 5 Sept 20

Much, much better today! Both of us! 

I could tell she was doing well enough to be released since she was joking around. That's like our normal Marcia! 

This is the monitor registering Marcia's vitals. Look on the right side a little ways down. It says 94. That's the blood oxygen level. That's good! When she was readmitted it was 72! Not good! 

She has breathing exercises, plus physical therapy and medications at specific times! She's really demanding. 

The Doctor gave the go ahead to be released about 2:00. 

Starlene met us to help facilitate her departure and within about 15 mins. we were climbing back into the van to return to the hotel. Yay!  

Marcia with Starlene