Hardware Successfully Removed

So, it wasn't quite as "no big deal" as they lead us to believe, but relatively painless. We arrived at Norton's Brownsboro Hosptial at 12:00. They had planned for us to be there at 11am, and begin at 1:00pm, but then called that morning to tell us not to come in until 12 and that the procedure would begin at 2:00pm. I asked, "So, he's still not supposed to eat or drink anything all day, and you aren't starting until 2?" "Yes." 

At 12:00 we arrived at the hospital and they checked us in. After he had changed clothes, gotten an IV started, and relaxed, they came in to say that the doctor was way behind. We watched tv for awhile, and after what seemed like forever, they came in to tell us that it wouldn't start until 3pm. 

At 2:30 they came in and gave me a certificate for a free lunch downstairs and insisted I go eat something, as I hadn't had anything all day either (except for some little snacks I had in my bag) so off I went.

When I returned it was 3:00 and they said, "the doctor just began the previous procedure." Sam finally, started calling all the karate students and telling them, "No, we aren't having class tonight." The theory was that we'd be out by 4pm and then by 7:00 he could at least ride over to church with me and let someone else teach.

The funniest part was that he was still on the phone with a student when the nurse gave him the "relax yourself into a deep sleep" drug and she had to tell him to tell the student, "Time is up Chatty Kathy. Sam's going to sleep." 

Finally at 3:30pm they took him away.

This picture shows the monitor in the waiting room. If you look at the top line ID#3202, you can see the "Cut/Start" Time is 3:43pm.

This picture is when the time switched to "Close/End" and the time is 3:52pm. Funny considering it still shows the surgery time as "2:00pm". 

The doctor came out minutes later and said, "Everything went great. He has no restrictions. He won't want to go right back to kicking, maybe wait 2 weeks, but otherwise, do whatever you feel like you need to."

I asked about the crutches they'd told us to bring, and the doctor looked startled. He said absolutely no need. Then he said, "Well, they'll push him out to the car in a wheelchair when he leaves here, but it might help to have the crutches when he gets out of the car, just because it will hurt a little."

Here are the screws! In the picture, you can see the big one, it's about 4 inches long! Amazing huh? 

They had to be put into a baking oven that sterilizes them before we could take them home. I explained to the doctor that our 5 year old wanted to see them. They all thought that was funny. The nurse said, "At first I was like, 'What kind of weirdo is this guy who wants his hardware back?' then someone said, 'Its for his 5 year old son.' and I was like, 'Actually that makes perfect sense!' " 

They also all really enjoyed the fact that Sam had initially intended to teach karate at 7, as we were leaving the hospital at about 6pm, him more or less asleep!

Here he is awake finally! This was the terrific picture I sent off to our families so they'd know he was up and saying "cheese". If it gives you any indication of how long he had been awake, check out all the heart monitors and blood pressure cuff that are still attached.....