I get off the elevator on Tower 8 and walk toward the nursing unit feeling nervous and excited. I reach the desk and say "Hi, I'm Monique, the liver transplant patient for Dr. Z." Now, have you ever had someone look at you like you are speaking a foreign language, but you are speaking English just like them? Well, that's how the 3 ladies standing behind the desk looked at me. Finally one said, "You're here for a liver transplant? You don't look like you need a transplant." (I swear I should be a millionaire twice over for all the times I've heard the same comment.) I just looked and said, "Well…I am." They said are you alone, I said yes but my family will be here shortly. My nurse, M whisked me off to my room (mind you one of the ladies at the desk is turning in her chair as I walk by in mere amazement) to start prepping me for surgery.
I get to my room and my nurse tells me everything is going to move really fast so just bare with us because we have to do a lot in a short period of time. Then the commands and questions start. Sign this paper, please. I need to get your vitals. We are going to do an EKG. Here is your gown and everything needs to come off. At this point, my head is spinning and I'm glad to see Aisha walk through the door. Shortly after she arrived my dad walked in and my nerves were slowly starting to calm. I was just waiting for my mom to get there. I wasn't going down to the O.R. without seeing my mom. As I was about to head to the bathroom to put my gown on, my mom walked into my room. She looked nervous and scared herself, but I was smiling because she made it to the hospital in time. After, I came out of the bathroom I sat on my bed and the nurse told us they were ready for me in the O.R. and transport will be here shortly. It is now about 6 p.m. and a "nice, stretched Bentley pulls up…actually just a good ole hospital stretcher" but you get the point. I lay down, they put the nice little blue bonnet on my head and we roll on down to the elevators. Of course, mom, dad, and Aisha are all following me. Now, I'm already tearing up and I know my mom is doing the same. My dad is holding it together (at least in front of me) because he's the rock. Funny thing, Aisha is usually a "rock" too but I look at her and she's wiping away tears. Now, I'm thinking I'm an emotional mess (I'm telling you "Emotional Rollercoaster should have been playing") but Aisha you are usually good in these situations. Well, I look at her and she says "I know MO, I don't know what's wrong with me, " I just looked and said, "come on, not you" and we both laugh.
The elevator ride was pretty quiet and once the doors opened it was time for us to go our separate ways – at least for 10 hours. Lots of hugs and kisses, some pictures (I might share some of them) and see ya later's were shared and then I was being wheeled behind two double doors. Once, I got to the back I met the team that would take care of me during the surgery. My nurse started my IV, gave me some happy meds to help relax me and the only thing I remember before taking my long nap was someone saying, "spread both your arms out to your sides." LIGHTS OUT!