June 28th 2021

To many people

This was just another Monday.

For me though,

It is a 10 year marker.

10 years ago today

I was booked for major surgery.

Surgery I had been waiting 2 months for.

It was the day that meant

I could start eating solid foods

And come off of IV feeding.

I had been ill and running a fever

The whole day before,

But my nursing did not think

It was anything too serious.

They were wrong.

John wheeled me to the surgical check in

And got us all checked in.

I was wheeled away to prep

And he headed to the waiting room.

I do not remember being too scared,

But I am sure I was!

This surgery would be long and involved

And all 3 of my doctors

Would be in the surgery suite.

I remember laying on the gurney

Before going in, alone in the hall.

I remember the anesthesiologist 

Arguing that the IV should already 

Be hooked up and running.

I remember being laid out

Like I was on a cross 

and being strapped down.

Oxygen mask, count down

Gone.

Those are MY last memories

Until

I was being wheeled into my room

And seen Connie at the door

And she had definitely been crying

Gone again.

It was a long road to recovery.

They had to remove my large intestine

Completely and correct

Many issues including fistulas.

The doctor told me I had been septic.

My bowels were leaking

Into my body cavity.

I was dying...

In fact I had needed resucitation

During the long and involved surgery.

These are all facts I learned much later.

When I woke up

I put my hand down on my belly...

No

They had not needed to give me

An stormy bag.

I smiled and slept.

Weeks of recovery,

Infections

And confusing doctor instructions later

My body was starting to heal.

It was not the end of something

It was the beginning of my fight to survive.

And now?

I celebrate my 10th anniversary 

of that surgery

And my 34th anniversary

Of living with this disease

With a Remicade infusion today.

Good night from John Street