Missing Me Yet?????

As most of my friends know I had to fly out West to have (long needed) reconstructive surgery from staph infection I incurred in my face over four years ago.  This has been causing me  much pain, discomfort, agony and stress.  About three days a week I wake up with blood on my pillow and the pain was less than tolerable.  I was constantly suffering from infections and a swollen tender tip.  Basically, the "colony" was still residing in tissue and this cartilage had to be replaced with healthy cartilage harvested from my ribs and ears.  

For the past year John and I have been searching out Doctors that specialized in reconstruction and rib grafts.  The last procedure I had resulted in the staph from a cadaver transplant.   If you have staph  in your nose, you are said to be "colonized" with MRSA.  Healthy people can be colonized with MRSA and have no visible ill effects.  However, the virus can and will do long term damage to the surrounding tissue.  Staph can stay dormant until one has a weakened immune system and when an infection occurs this causes very serious illness.  After seeking out specialists in New York, Chicago, Dallas and California we decided upon an amazing genius in Newport Beach, Dr Rollin Daniel.  Unlike the other Doctors, this is the only area Dr Daniel works on and his specialty is reconstruction.  Dr Daniel took every precautionary measure to make sure this would go smoothly.  He started me on major antibiotics two weeks prior to surgery.  We anticipated it would be a long procedure (estimating up to 8 hours) during this time he removed all infected cartilage, eroding tissue and ultimately the colony which the staph manifested.  Dr Daniel (whom I worship) replaced it all with my harvested ribs, my ear and fascia from my scalp. I met his P.A., Helen that mini-chops it all together and  makes it into a pliable sculpture like consistency.  Dr Topkus (he tells me he is Russian but it sounds Greek to me....down to the nose) made sure that I was sleeping soundly for the entire surgery.  

I arrived to Orange County on Mother's Day all alone (John was departing around the same time as he had business in Europe) -- we had a great bonding morning with Sinclair and tried not to let my nerves rattle everyone.  My husband has been so amazing while I am confidant I had had him on pin and needles.

I practically got no sleep Sunday night.  I arrived at Dr. Daniel's office very early Monday morning for all my preoperative preliminaries and some sweet "pep talk" from his wonderful right hand, Amy. Soon after, I arrived at the hospital, began my prep and met the team of master artisans that would be working on me until late in the day.  

I cannot say enough great things about this medical team.  They let me take my family photos with me until I was put under.  When I woke up much later in the day, my personal nurse Annette was there to tend to my needs.  She was fantastic, such a great hand-holder.  So much of her reminded me of my Mom, "JoJo"....very nurturing.  Annette spent the the first three days and nights next to my bedside and made sure I stayed very comfortable.   I still had so much of my body that was numb but when I took my first full breath I truly thought I was being stabbed.  The rib removal is without  doubt the most painful thing I have ever experienced.  Childbirth is a walk in the park.  Morphine does not take the edge off that much.  The only other rough day was yesterday when I had the dry heaves....let's just say you do not realize how much relief that extra 4" of rib gives you.  It made me think of Biblical times when Adam generously donated his rib without the assistance of an epidural.  He is quite possibly the strongest man that ever lived.

As night fell, Annette and I made it back to my hotel room where we would be "roomies" for the next few days until my friends Becky and Nick showed up from Las Vegas, where their family is considered true "Vegas Royalty". John and  I love them dearly, they are like my second parents and Nick is one of the funniest humans on this earth which means my poor rib was not healing any faster.  Alas, "third string nurse maid",  Shanae came to take over for the latter part of the two weeks of post of festivities.  I had all my family photos displayed around the room and enough DVD's to make Roger Ebert cringe from Golden Globe overload.  

I am on day eight and still have drains coming out of my nostrils.  They took the drain out of the ribs earlier this week.  Yesterday, Dr. Daniel's best gal, sweet Amy  (my new BFF and fellow Houstonian) came and took off the lower gauze and packing off my face.  My face is still very tender and swollen but has no bruising.  There are many stitches in my lower lips and inside my cheeks.  I have eaten more mashed potatoes and Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcakes (Amy and I agree these are the absolute BEST) this week than I have devoured in a lifetime.

I sound funny because of all the tubes and stitches, so when I phoned home today and spoke to Sinclair I do not think she realized it was Mommy.  Alas, she did not hesitate to tell me about how she played with "GaGa" and Tia.  Then I heard the "Dora the Explorer" song start and I knew my precious seconds were numbered.  

I cannot wait to get home and kiss my family and hear all about Europe from John and "make paints" (this is what Sinclair refers to her arts and crafts)  

I am just settling in bed after finishing my 45th bowl of mashed potatoes this week.  While waiting for the 133rd Preakness Stakes to race at Pimlico I saw the favorite, "Big Brown" wears special shoes custom made for him that cost $550 dollars each!  Holy Mother of Pearl!!!  I am still thinking about shoes so I must be feeling better, right???