Day: October 9, 2006

Tess is okay

A quick note before dashing off to sleep… Tess’ procedure took place today without incident. About fifteen minutes after returning to the Canossa I was sitting in Tess’ room when Dr. Chan called from the OR to say everything went according to plan. He had literally just finished and called me – amazing… that’s not something I expect from your average doctor. He told me he was still in his surgical gown and would join me in Tess’ room once cleaned up.

About ten minutes later Dr. Chan arrived in Tess’ room. He explained that everything was uneventful and Tess was recovering in the OR. After chatting for a few minutes he left and as he opened the door Tess was wheeled in on a stretcher. After settling her back in her bed she pretty much slept from noon until 7 PM, waking every few minutes to talk or drink some water. Tess is a very resilient person with a much higher pain threshold than her DH (blush!) and did very well post-op.

Normally, we would have prayed prior to her going into the OR but everything happened just too quickly for that to happen. (Lesson from Jesus: be more planful with your praying.) Tess told me afterwards that as she lay on the OR table about to go under she looked over to see a sign posted on the wall, "Hand all your burdens over to God, for He is with you now." (That’s about when I was sitting in Tess’ room praying and was awash with peace.) A few minutes later the anaesthetist, leaning over Tess’ arm, said to her, "I’m just going to give you a little gin and tonic…" and Tess was out like a light.

I spent the day in Tess’ hospital room getting caught-up on e-mails and finally left at 7:45. Just before leaving a nurse came rushing in to ask in excited Chinglish, "We R sending specimen to lab for testing need permission, want to see, OKAY?" Huh? Wait… Tess turned her head away as I asked, "Is that the fibroid?"

"Yes, the specimen," the nurse replied a little calmer but still excited.

To make a long story, the nurse and I disappeared into the private bathroom to look at the fibroid and I even took a picture. I know, gross, but eventually either Tess, Sebastian, Jasper, Sela or Carys will ask what a fibroid looks like and as their husband/father, I need to be ready with an answer. Observation reveals: a chopped up, cooked but pink italian sausage… and wow, yes it was huge. About the size of a large Fuji apple. Okay… TMI, I’ll stop now.

Amazingly, as I was leaving, Stephanie came to visit so Tess was not alone upon my departure. I am totally bagged and now heading off to sleep.

By the way, if you have not yet seen the video of Sebastian below, please take a moment to check it out!

Tess @ The Canossa

Hong Kong never ceases to amaze me! I accompanied Tess this morning to the Canossa Hospital – to remove the pesky tennis ball from her tummy – and everything started happening like clockwork. We arrived about 7:10 AM and were processed at Admitting in less than ten minutes. A nurse waited nearby who escorted us upstairs. As we stepped off the elevator another nurse was waiting for us, greeted us and took us to Tess’ room. (Pictured here!) The room has a fridge, TV, DVD player (4 – 5 English channels) and free Internet access. (But, I cannot promise that Tess will blog from the hospital.) After settling in for 20 minutes a nurse came in to start the paperwork, check the vitals and answer any questions. Another 20 minutes later Dr. Joe Chan came in for a visit. His wife, Dr. Cora Ngai, delivered the triplets and was part of the QMH NIC Chic Team! Cora and Joe went into private practise together about a year ago… I cannot say enough about how wonderful they are and Joe’s bedside manner is one of the best I have seen in Hong Kong. But his manner is an unusual manner – charming in an understated and humble way.

Some funny comments:

One of the nurses said, "Okay please get into the hospital smock now… you’ll like it, it’s VERY sexy!" (Said with an enthusiastic tone but the nurse knew full well she was fibbing!)

Tess, remembering back to being stoned from the "twilight anesthesia" days said, "I am sure by late this afternoon I’ll be feeling fine and cracking jokes." Dr. Chan replied dryly, "Nooooo… I don’t think you’re going to feel very well for the rest of today. Maybe tomorrow you’ll feel okay."

Tess said to Dr. Chan, "You look so young and you and Cora make such a great couple." Dr. Chan replied with a blush, "I might look young but I am not that young… and to be honest it’s a curse. Everyone wants an old looking doctor who they think has more experience!"

After Dr. Chan left Tess looked at me and asked, "I like him so much… can we keep him?"

True to the clock, at 8:50 am Tess was wheeled out of her room and down the hall. I expected we would have to wind our way through the hospital to the OR but bang… it was right there in front of us within twenty paces. I hardly had a chance to say good-bye to Tess at all but I knew she was in good hands. She’s expected to be out of the OR by 11:30 – noon. Knowing Hong Kong, they will be true to their word so I am going to head back to the hospital asap. Stay tuned for details.