“I don’t think I am ready to do this,” a tear runs down my eye as I look at my boyfriend. I said it in a whisper so my mom couldn’t hear. I didn’t want her to know I was scared because she didn’t want me to do it in the first place.
“You got this, babe; you’re gonna be okay. God is with you. I am here for you, so is your mom. We got you,” my boyfriend tries to assure me. He wipes the tear off my face.
I take a deep breath. And continue getting ready for bed. Tomorrow was the day I get surgery. I had second thoughts because I had never had surgery before getting my wisdom teeth pulled. I was so scared of what could go wrong. I knew I wanted to get the surgery, but I didn’t know if I was truly prepared for recovery or complications.
***
The next morning I felt a little better. I got up and took a shower with the special soap they gave me at my pre-op visit. I put my sweats on and walked into the kitchen. My mom was already up praying. Travis was still sleeping, so I woke him up. We got ourselves together to head to the hospital. I lived very close to the hospital, so it didn’t take too long to get there. Travis couldn’t go in with my mom, and it made me sad, but I was glad I had my mom was able to come though. Because of COVID, there were a lot of different protocols that kept me from having the desired number of guests with me during my stay.
As we pull into the short-term stay surgery entrance, my heart started beating, but I did not want to show fear. I took of my necklace and handed it to my boyfriend, I told him to hold it for me so I didn’t lose it. He gave it to me for our first Christmas together. I’ve worn it every day ever since. I know it hurt him to have to hold it while I left for surgery.
I started to prep for surgery, putting on my hospital gown on but still shaking and nervous. my mom started praying with me after I was dressed in the gown. She took her bible out, put her Dolly, and started praying. Another tear went down my face as my mother began to pray in Creole. I know she was scared. As my mom completes the prayer, the first nurse walks in.
She starts my IV for my arm. Looking at the nurse, I was a little creeped out by her appearance; sis had a stain on her scrubs. It looked like a food stain; her fair was messy. And she was a bit clumsy. I was like, oh no, this is a bad start. She had difficulty getting the needle in my arm. Even worse. I still have a small scar from where she put the IV. SMH! LIKE WHY LORD WHY!
That scared the shit outta me, but the rest of the day went fine. I then took some sort of pill to help me get ready to go under before the surgery. Right after, the Surgeon, Anesthesiologist, and their associates came in to talk to me about how the surgery will go. I felt safer because I have been in contact with the doctor for almost a year now. We had a rapport, so it gave me some relief.
As he walked away, I felt more ready. Moments later, the nurses and transporters came in to wheel me into surgery. I kissed my mom goodbye because she had to leave the hospital during the surgery due to COVID protocol. She was allowed to come back after I was in my recovering room.
PRAISE GOD! I MADE IT!
RACHIIESPEAKS.COM
As they wheeled me into the hospital room, I felt a sense of peace. The anesthesiologist came in and dosed me up with (to be honest, I don’t know what it was, but It made me sleep). I went to sleep and when I woke up… I was thirsty!
“WATER WATER!” I try to say with a parched throat.
The nurse came and said, you can’t have water yet. We have to wait for 5 minutes.
In my mind, I could only think that I was thirsty, and I was happy that I came out on the other side of this surgery. PRAISE GOD, I MADE IT!
Look out for part 3 of my recovery from the hospital story.
Rachiie Speaks 