Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Girl Who Woke Up During Surgery













Here's the story I don't know. I woke up during surgery and had to be restrained so tightly that my arms are yellow and green with scrapes like a girl in a crime scene. My kidneys started to shut down. I was septic which is a blood infection that gives you a 50/50 chance to live. The fact that I'm writing this means, well, you know what it means. I became wildly delusional because of the morphine and trauma. At one point I became convinced that the head nurse had moved me to a Pizza Hut. She looked at me with deep compassion and untangled the myriad of IVs around my neck. "Sweetheart, sweetheart, you think that you're at a Pizza Hut because of all of this spaghetti around my head." Another nurse asked me to consider a DNR order. She's also the one who saw me tear out my Foley catheter attached to my inner thigh causing a huge sore on my thigh. "You often see that in rape victims," she said. "They reenact the trauma." I have read that a person's hearing is the last sense to go, so I was glad that I could still see.

I'm feeling very grateful for my life -- as one woman who was taking my blood as I was praying said, "Honey, just thank Jesus. If he wanted you gone, you'd be gone." Thank all of you for your prayers, good thoughts and well wishes. I miss all of you and will post more when I can. Much love, Michelle.

18 comments:

Cheri said...

Good God Michelle... that made me cry. You poor poor thing. I am thankful to God that you are alright. What a terrible thing to happen.

the walking man said...

Don't you hate it when you wake up during surgery? I know that feeling, but I am certain that somehow or another you will ingest this entire incident.

Have no fear in recovering bud, time and the body are great healers.

Be well.

JR's Thumbprints said...

Hey Michelle,
Glad to hear you made it through the surgery. Hang in there, we know you're tough. Miss your writing too.

Whitenoise said...

Wow, quite an ordeal. Yes, very happy that you made it through okay...

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I got dragged to the emergency room in August after having a heart attack one morning at work. 45 minutes later I was having angioplasty and stents run up my femoral artery to open up Tim Russert scale blockages. It's no fun at all! But nothing that $100K of insurance couldn't take care of.

Take care and have a great Xmas.

chris said...

Next Friday they will knock my 43 year old butt out, for a little out patient surgery, for the lovely deveiated syptem . Waking up durring this procedure has been a lovely concern of mine. At 43 I have been banged up and in many posotions that would have broken many other people,yet I rarely recieved a scratch. I guess I have just been lucky up to this point.

Thank you for coming back to us. I only hope my sleeping experience is better than yours. If this is a recent photo of you I must say you came through looking as good as ever. Best wishes to you my dear,rest and heal well.

Charles Gramlich said...

Wow, just, wow! I had no idea it was that bad. Thank God you're on the mend. If you ever doubted your toughness, now is the time to quit doubting.

Laura Benedict said...

Oh, honey. This breaks my heart. How terrifying.

Sending you love and strength and prayers. xo

Heff said...

Get well soon. If only there was a spell for avoiding surgery.


And thanks for putting me on your "Pick Your Poison" list.

Tim said...

So glad to see you back Michelle. Wow, what an adventure! Rest easy and don't try to do much. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Anonymous said...

MB hang in there. You are one tough woman. Just had a foley removed. Think "Yellow Fang." Was my inspiration. MW :)

laughingwolf said...

don't let the crummy weather stop you from a full recoveyy, michelle

Anonymous said...

I remember the time I had the kidney stone problem at the circus. I screamed so loud that the guy fell off the tightrope.--Kramer

jodi said...

Dear God, Girl. Mental trauma on top of physical. Can't imagine. All your worst fears revisited. Or maybe it was the utter lack of control of your situation? Either way, it wasn't your "time". That's because WE need you so much. Rest and recover and WRITE! Luv u. xoxo P.S. anything I can do for U?

Unknown said...

Hey Lil Pebbs,
Can't figure out how else to reach you. Thinking of you constantly. Emails at your other address.
Love you tons!!
Hi Mark. Glad you're okay.
Bamms

Scott said...

Michelle,

I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. I'm glad you made it . You take care of yourself, and get completely well soon. Love and good wishes to you.:)

Anonymous said...

"I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.
I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.”
-Mother Teresa

Lana Gramlich said...

Eek, Michelle! I'm glad you're still with us! Please do take care of yourself!