The Big Day

Dwayne, Diane's husband, is the guest blogger for today.

The morning started off early with nervous packing but no passport for sunnier climes needed. Diane spent much of the morning micromanaging food, football, and schedules in an effort to shift her focus away from the coming surgery. We arrived on time for our 7:00 am check in and by 8:00 the pre-op nurse came to get the family to see her off.

The nurse played a small joke on us; warning us to be prepared for her shaved head. Cameras at the ready, we were disappointed when she just looked funny in her blue gown. It was great to see humor so readily used by a high functioning confident team at RCH. By 8:30, after a few final FB posts, and a rash of texts, Diane was wheeled into the staging area for the 11 operating theaters. She was visited by her Anesthesiologist and Dr. M prior to her surgery, and the good Doc actually initialed her forehead before she went in. He was in good spirits and asked her if she would like a superpower installed while he was in there. I offered up super-model as an option, but no one thought that was funny except me. Oh well, tough room. I kissed her and told her I loved her and then just as she went through the door, I shared a comment that our good friend Bruce gave today "Don't worry Di, it's not like it's rocket science." She didn't laugh at that one either. She told me later that she was put under with little warning once on the table, and waking up felt like seconds later, not the 3 1/2 hours it actually took.

The thing that struck me the most in the pre-op experience was the confidence and competence displayed by all the high functioning teams that were coming in to take their patient to the given surgery. Names were checked, allergies double checked, and X marks the spot applied as required all the while a light humor permeated the conversations throughout the room. RCH has their act together.

While waiting in the hall we were greeted by a volunteer who offered us coffee, updates on Diane, and cheap parking tips. What service! More kudo's to RCH. We went and got some breakfast and were back in position before the surgery was over. Dr. M called me once he was done, and I went and met him in recovery where he explained what happened. In brief the tumor was confirmed benign (as expected) so NO CANCER to worry about! Massive relief to have that confirmed. He described the size of it - literally the size of a mandarin orange. He got it all, and Diane came through surgery as smoothly as possible. Now onto recovery.

Diane spent the balance of the day in recovery and then up to post neuro surgery observation where she will be watched over by 2 nurses all night, while being woken every hour to check vitals - much as you would with someone who suffered a massive concussion. Di struggled to remember things from moment to moment, often asking the same question - with the same reaction each time. She got excited and happy after hearing The Mandarin was cancer free three different times. I think this was mostly a drug induced short term memory issue rather than anything else. Cam had to leave to participate in his JV football team's league game. Diane was insistent that he win for her, since she had won for him today. I'm happy to report the team, led in part by Captain Cam, was true to her request, winning by 2 points over Lord Tweedsmuir.

By the time we were asked to leave about 7:30 pm, she was doing much better and even cracked a few jokes and generally started to sound more like herself. She wanted me to leave her phone behind, but there was no way her light sensitive eyes needed to try and stare at a screen.

We will be back in the AM and will offer an update at the end of the day Friday. She will not likely take visitors while at RCH, preferring to focus on recovery rather than being entertained. But Diane being Diane, that may all change and a party might break out any time.

Thanks for all of your best wishes, prayers, and love - it means the world to Diane and all of her family.

Cheers,
Dwayne, Sarah, and Cam