Calls & texts were the first part of my morning as the inner circle of family and friends wanted to hear a voice. I was unable to visit Suzanne until Noon because my attempt to get an early exemption failed.

Amazing how questions in your mind clear after some thoughts. I realized this morning that the fright I saw in Suzanne’s eyes last night is just like a movie plot we have all seen. The patient wakes up after a catastrophe, unable to speak or move but can see and hear, there is no way to tell anyone in the room what you are thinking. In the meantime, everyone around you is going about life as if nothing is wrong. Basically trapped in her head, Suzanne is living that movie right now with the added stress of feeling that she is not breathing normally. Terrified that no one will ever hear her again or meet her needs. Fortunately, that fear has changed a lot today as things progressed.

Like a scene from a Hospital show, Suzanne has a number of wires, tubes, and monitors all hooked up. Two drainage tubes come from her neck area for adequate wound drainage as well as one on her right wrist where the Flap was taken. IV’s are attached at both her left wrist and ankle to provide meds and fluids.

Early afternoon, the ventilator was removed and she was provided just supplemental oxygen at her Trach opening. That was again reduced early evening with the hope of no supplemental oxygen by tomorrow. Tylenol is her major pain medicine at this point with another on standby if her pain needs aren’t met. Every hour, the nurse checks the blood flow in the reconstruction flap with at Doppler unit. Constant fluids, feedings, and medications are also occurring.

Communication is tough. With her somewhat swollen face, lip reading is difficult as things just don’t move the way they normally would. She is trying to get used to typing what she needs in the type to speech app on her phone, but a monitor on her left index finger and a cast on her right wrist makes it more difficult. What we really should have done is played more charades before the surgery.

Also this afternoon, I gave some friends & family the chance to say Hi over the speakerphone to her. Other than going through a box of kleenex, Suzanne and everyone that called loved the chance. So, If you would like to say HI to Suzanne, text me sometime after lunch and see if we can get it done between all the nurses, doctors, and what I call the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ crew.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17