Disappointment is an understatement

I can’t explain the disappointment on Friday. After a terrible night of sleep both Dusty and I were woken early to get prepped for the op. An ampath nurse comes and takes my blood to check my potassium levels. Dusty’s surgery was going to start two hours before mine.

Prof came in a little later and this is when the uncertainty started. He checked my blood results and potassium was 6. One point higher than what it should have been. My blood pressure was 80 over 40. Prof was concerned.

He said to me that because of these results we would have to reschedule. Then Dusty’s surgeon came and said the same thing. Then my anesthetist came in and he also agreed. I was more than disappointed. I had a few choice words but I bit my tongue. This was the first time in three years I can honesly say I had given up and Shay saw it. She said to me she saw it in my whole body and this broke her. To add fuel to the fire the docs up to this point said I was going to be moved ICU to sort my potassium and BP out. This was terrible news, not only was I not going to have my op I was not going to be going home.

Before this point I thought the only reason the operation would be postponed was if one of us was sick, but I had imagined that this would happen a few days before. I never thought it would be postponed the morning of.

Just then there was a glimmer of hope, Dr Patel the cardiologist came in and he said we should go ahead with the surgery. He said the doctors must “treat the patient and not the blood pressure”. This was music to our ears. THE OP WAS ON!

Until…

Dr Dawood came in and spoke about my body as a whole. He made really good sense. The op was off and this was the wise decision. It hurt like hell to hear those words. My body needs to be in top condition. Dr Dawood then discharged me for the weekend. I had just to be dialysed for three hours then I could go home. Happy Dance! I get to go home to my Evi and Shay.

Shay’s dad and Ro brought me home and I couldn’t have been happier. I was back in my safe space. The afternoon was spent around a fire with family. God is good.