February 1 - “Steroid Brain and Cataract Eyes”

I know this was reserved as Chris’ doc day again, but hey. I wrote this part at 2:38 in the morning, I guess I can take some time for me, too. 

 

So why 2:38 a.m.? Drumroll here … Steroid Brain. Well, and Steroid Body, too, I suppose. It’s been a while since I was thusly afflicted, but I remember it oh so well. Now, I have to say that this time I was duly warned. It’s one of the myriads of side effects of the shot in the back. And so far, my back has seemed - hmm - quieter than usual? I know it’s just day one, but that’s a plus. Steroid Brain? Well, not a plus. It just thinks that it doesn’t need to sleep. Very frustrating, especially when I had to get Chris to her surgery in a few hours. How’s that for a transition? 

 

Steroid Brain and Cataract Eyes. Sounds like a new Superhero pair to me. 

 

OK. Chris was originally scheduled for 2:30, but someone canceled, so she moved up to the 10:30 slot. That meant we had to be at the hospital up in Texas by 10. That meant we had to leave by 9:30. That meant Chris managed to watch me eat frozen waffles and bacon. Then she fixed Sam some scrambled eggs. All without having eaten since about 8 the night before. Then she wanted to drive to the appointment. I would drive back, of course. Drugs and all, you know? They told her not to make any life changing decisions. I could think of one. She was getting into a car with a driver who was still high. Steroid Brain!  

 

Now the after-surgery report. I’ll try to put down what she told me then, because she probably won’t remember it later. They gave her that truth serum stuff. 

 

She had a tough one. Guess she had to do something to one-up me. All her vitals were good, but she had some issues during the surgery itself. Actually, they started just before. They were trying to move her up in the bed and she got very short of breath. They had to hold everything for a few minutes so she could recuperate. That’s when they realized that the oxygen tube wasn’t connected properly. After they got that straightened out and gave her some time for some deep breathing, they continued. She did report a few things to them as they were working. Don’t think they expected her to talk that much. But one was that whatever they were doing, she was feeling. “Increase the meds.”  Then she saw an array of colors. She asked what they were doing that would produce that effect. They were breaking apart the cataract. Don’t think she was supposed to see that. “Increase the meds.” Then she notified them that whatever they were doing felt really uncomfortable. That time they were tearing out the old lens, and it wasn’t cooperating. “Increase the meds.” Oh, and she even got to sample a different med than the Versed they keep upping. At one point her heart rate dropped to 34. Not good. The new stuff obviously worked, but they told her she might need to look into getting a pacemaker. Imagine that. 

 

Post-surgery, all her vitals were good. However, she just didn’t feel good. In her words, “It just feels like something is off.”  Couldn’t put her finger on any one thing other than an extremely dry mouth and a headache. When the anesthesiologist poked her head in, I asked about the dry mouth. Yep. One of the symptoms of the drug to increase her heart rate. 

 

So, going home. Other than avoiding chain saws and driving tanks, “Drink lots of fluid. Call if you feel like you’re having a heart attack.”  

Great. We promise someone will be contacted. 

 

Speaking of calls, last night I was called to the hospital. One of our firefighters collapsed at work and was taken for emergency brain surgery. They had to open up a separate room for all the firefighters to hang out. The hospital was bending over backwards to support our guys as well as the family. Then when he was taken into surgery, the huge waiting area outside the operating room was covered as well with at least 50 or 60 or more firefighters. Great show of support for the family. Great demonstration of the bond of the firefighters as well. 

 

After an hour and a half or so in surgery, the doc finally came out to give an update. And it was actually hopeful. He mentioned three things that could make a difference. 

1.     He is young

2.     The world record time between when the event occurred and when surgery began. Huge shout out to his fellow firefighters and paramedics and police officers. 

3.     The surgery went well. 

 

Now we wait to see how things progress from here. Keep praying for this young man. 

 

Matthew 19:26 says, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

 

Father, thank you for being with Chris. Please give her a quick recovery. And speaking of quick recoveries, please touch Andy. He needs you. Amen.