March 8, 2010 "A+"

surgery is now pushed up to 2.30pm. looking forward to post op as i am sure are others. i learned kristen's blood type a short while ago. following a tube from her neck to a bag about two feet above, "A+" is emblazoned on the bag of someone else's blood. it reminds me of being with my dad on weekend mornings while he donated blood and we munched on cookies and oj. he has a plaque somewhere that tells the world how many gallons (yes gallons) of blood he's donated. it's such an easy thing to do and such a powerful gift to a stranger in need. her transfusion is just to be sure her hemoglobin count is optimal before she goes into surgery.

kristen was alert and aggressive this morning. i snuck in at 8 (cheating the 10am visiting hours) and was welcomed by the nurses. she was physically active in the bed and moved her bowels - both good signs. she is nervous about the surgery which has been moved up to mid-day. she also asked a lot of questions, a few of which had been asked and answered before. it's really too bad the pain meds have such an effect on her memory and alertness. hydromorphone (dilaudid) is the stuff they've kept her on and it's wicked.

i forced myself to go to work today and i am glad i did. part of the reason was to handle her employee disability claim and get some other business done. work colleagues have a way of being concerned without being emotional and anyway the girls are at school and i was happy for a taste of normalcy. but after a few hours i got word of the transfusion and i wanted to be back. so here i am hoping for the best and preparing for something less.

i am staring at A+, but it feels like D-