Surgery Started at 5:50pm

E.'s blood sugars have been running way high all day. Despite numerous insulin injections, it was still over 300 at the time of surgery. The anesthesiologist ordered some kind of insulin kit to keep E.'s blood sugar levels stable during the procedure. E.'s platelet count was also low (115,000) so he had to receive a unit of platelets prior to surgery.

The orderly wheeled E. to pre-op at 3:15 to get him ready for the scheduled 4:00 surgery. We went down the hall, down the elevator, down the other hall and through the doors of pre-op when we were informed that the neurosurgeon was still in surgery at the hospital across town. Back to room #437 we went to wait it out.

Take #2 started a couple of hours later. The anesthesiologist met with us, as did the neuro surgeon (and also the neuro surgeon assisting him). Charts were reviewed. IVs were started. Procedures were discussed.

Then it was time for one last kiss.

They wheeled him into the operating room at 5:5o pm.

And now we wait.