Operation # 5 took place on October 29th. There were signs leading up to the operation that this was going to be a battle. The low beams on our Mazda 3 that we were leaving for the kids to use in case we needed a favor needed to be fixed. We took it to a mechanic on the way to the hospital and after going to two places, someone was able to help us with only a half an hour to spare before we needed to be at the hospital. The second sign was in pre-op where I had a brand new nurse who did not know how to start an IV. With my wife and I in a silent panic, an experienced nurse finally came in. It was now off to the OR and all I kept thinking as "just wake up, whatever happens, the love that Holly and I have for each other will overcome anything".
The next thing I saw was my Angel walking into my room with a beautiful ornament and bracelet that would give me inspiration and I would need that inspiration because I would be staying for 8 of the longest days and nights of my life. Holly told me that the operation took over 5 hours and that no one had told her what was going on until the end. My condition was worse than anyone had thought. A portion of my intestines had failed due to the fact that the scar tissue had so badly overtaken them and stuck them to the medical mesh from previous operations and my abdomen wall. The first few nights were as expected, a lot of pain and thanking god for my morphine pump. In my mind, I was hoping to go home by Monday or Tuesday the latest. It already sucked that I was missing Evan's second Halloween.
One of Dr. Mahan's colleagues noticed that I was having excess drainage from the stables in my abdomen. He immediately cut one of the stables and had it packed with gauze. The next day, they had to cut open all of stables and I had an infected open wound that was 19 cm long and 3 cm deep and 4 cm wide. It not only that now I was under the care of the infectious wound doctors as well as Mahan, but the wound looked like the State of Florida and it was disgusting. I was now pumped with antibiotics, had my wounds redressed every 8 hours. I was in a terrible frame of mind with all of the medication, mostly lousy nursing care, I knew that I mentally needed to keep it together if I was going to make it to my goal of making it home. When I was loosing it, I quickly switched my thoughts to my wife and children. The true test came my last night in the hospital.
As the day went on I kept fidgeting. I could not lie still anymore. 8 nights of sleeping on my back or the lack of sleeping with hot and cold sweats, nightmares of not waking up if I fell asleep were enough. It was like a whole army of ants made it in my pants! About 45 minutes before Holly came to visit with Evan and Alyssa, they finally gave me a Xanax. Ten minutes before they came, I was back to normal. However, after their visit, the anxiety got worse and I was wrongly given a large dose of Benadryl. I react poorly Benadryl and I thought they were going to need to put me in a straight jacket. The only thing that kept me partially sane was Holly and the thought of going home.
I received a double dose of Xanax and I was fine. Later that night, Dr. Mahan came to visit. I told him that I needed to go home tomorrow. I said I looked into it and that I could have a home nurse come and redress my bandages daily and that unless I was going to walk outside and drop dead from air hitting my well bandaged wound, I was out of there. I knew if I stayed there any longer I would get another infection from being in the hospital for so long or I would be in the psych ward.
Dr. Mahan is agreed. He has amazing patient care and he saved my life. He told me the infection was already present in my digestive tract due to the failing of my intestines and if I had not gotten the operation and infection taken care of, my intestines would have failed within a few weeks and the infection could have lead to worse. Two weeks after being released, I have made strides, but still have some way to go. My wound has healed enough so I can have a wound vac installed which will heal my wound in a month versus three. Dr. Mahan expects a full recovery and said that I could now hold Evan, which will be great therapy for me, Evan, and it will give Holly some much needed help.
This experience has taught me that I have wonderful children, with each child helping out in their own way. Coming and visiting me in the hospital cheered me up so much! Caitlin and Brandon driving me the week after to appointments since Holly had no sick days left. Caitlin watching Evan on a school night when my operation went longer than expected, and Alyssa. She spoke to me every day telling me how much she missed me and most of all the help she gave with Evan was amazing and so helpful to her Mom and I. My parents, who called everyday to make sure I was okay and giving me advice on what to ask the doctors since I was so out of it. They have a lot on their plate with my Grandmother, but they always find a way to let you know they care. Finally, the love of my life and the angel that God sent me, Holly, showing me that our love has no bounds and is ever lasting.
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