Well, morning finally came, an invisible sun lent meager light to a gray and soggy world. I showered, shaved, and brushed my teeth. My little travel bag was already packed, and I put on the loose clothing I had set aside for just this day.

I helped Patty get around, either she was having one of her better days or she was pretending to, just for me. I took off my rings, didn't put on my watch, and she carried my wallet in her purse.

I signed the book in admitting, and they put a hospital bracelet on me, it had all my info on it, including my age, sigh. alma is a little town, but the biggest one in our rural county. So our hospital is a little bigger than it would seem for a small city like mine. It has to take care of the whole county, you see.

The waiting room was teeming with old people and families waiting for loved ones to come out of surgery. I may never understand that. Patty would wait among them, alone, for me. Inside, that knowledge made me happy, and a little tearful. Someone should have been with her. But she did it........just for me.

Back in a room, divided from the world by a billowing blue curtain-wall, I got as vulnerable as a man can get. I got naked. It's an uneasy feeling, but the crew getting me ready were all people I knew. It is, after all, a small town. When Patty had her roux-en-y I bribed this very crew with chocolate covered strawberries. That was nearly three years ago, I realized.

Soon my abdomen was hair free, and an IV was in my hand (painful bit, that). Then a shot of something and nighty night. Almost immediately I awoke. It was two hours later and I was in a different room. And it was done!

Groggily I contemplated the past and the future. Never before had my own fate felt so securely placed in my own hands. I napped again. Moments later I awoke as I went through the recovery routine. My simplest accomplishment was met with oohs and ahs and praise. It urged me to continue.

Then the room, and the face that I love best staring down at me. A long happy kiss (she'd had coffee!) and a squeeze of the hand. My wife, my love and my truest hero stood before me, with her epidural bag in one hand, and her purse in the other. "You did it!" I was too overcome, and too groggy to talk. I napped again.

Later friends came and said "hi". Patty got tired, and headed home, still no one to be with her other than a good friend who was spending the night at our house. But it would be a couple hours before Becky got there. Patty is the strongest person I know. Still much stronger than I, yet I feel I should protect her. Good old genetics!

The night was interminable, a series of slipping into sleep for mere moments to be awakened by a myriad of raucous interruptions. My roomie talked non-stop the entire night. On the phone, to me, to passers by in the hall, to nurses and aides, and even to himself. Nurses checked on me twice every nano second. One even woke me to ask if I were sleeping well. Bless her pointed little head.

They wanted me to walk. I walked. They wanted me to suck on a blue plastic thing. I felt silly, but I did it. They seemed inordinately interested in my bathroom habits. I told them there are doctors for that sort of obsession. Morning came. The world was in a blanket of fog. The second day in a row that the deer hunters had bad weather for their sport.

Enter the Doc. You can go home if you can hold down liquids and pass the x-ray with dye. I was so thirsty that the dye tasted good. Sad, isn't it? I went back to the room and sipped broth and some coffee. Coffee! My old friend, who had been with me every morning of my life.

There is much less pain than I expected. It is much easier to get around than I expected. All in all it was a good thing. Now I just gotta get my head around the changes that have occured in me.

Those of you not yet banded: It's easier than you think. You're involved in the hard part right now. The decision, the plan, the path to surgery. Those are more stressful than doing the deed.

Thanks to all for all the kind words. The caring. It's time for a little tea now, and maybe a bit of sleep.

You crack me up Greg... Well... I'm already half cracked... but never-the-less.

Ryan... so glad you are back safe and sound in bandland! I am still thankful that I had a private room... I was in bed... out of bed... in bed... out of bed... pacing the halls...crazy outta my mind until I got out of that place! I kept feeling like I needed to attend to the beeping IV's and call lights that went off continuously all night long. There really is no place like home! Welcome back!

Darcy

"No! That Can't Be Shrinking, Too!" NTCBST

What do you think that the day was like when god created man??

"Let man gain weight EVERYWHERE but right there. Let that thing fill with blood, robbing his brain of vital blood and oxygen making him unable to make a decision in that state!!!!!!!

Not bad for only a rib to work with, huh?

Is that what they mean by, I have a bone to pick with you???

Ryan...I love the way you write...have I ever told you that?

You capture me every time with your words. I'm so happy to hear about the start of your journey especially the way you tell it. Congratulations to you! Rest up my friend, we need you here enlightening us with your words.

Greg you are too funny !

Congratulations on a successful surgery ryan and thanks for all the info