Post Pre-Op Report

This one will be for hard-core followers only.  Michael said people don't need to know every little detail, but for me, this is a good way to document everything.  If you're bored, you can look at the pictures and move on.  (However, there's a surprise at the end!)

To say I woke up at 3:30 this morning would be to suggest that I actually slept last night.  It's more accurate to say that I opened my eyes at 3:30 this morning to see how close to 4:00 it was.  I drove us to Presby today since the shuttle doesn't run that early.  Michael was quickly registered and admitted.  Mari Ann and I had barely set down our things in the Surgical Family Lounge when they were ready for him in pre-op.  I got to go with him for the confusing parade of doctors, nurses and technicians who saw him for their singular purposes.

• 5:27  Surgical Family Lounge
• 5:35  Pre-Op (fashionable open-back gown replaced jeans and t-shirt)
• 6:08  Donna (nurse) completed vitals.
• 6:11  Dr. Caldwell (anesthesiologist) introduced himself.
• 6:19  Tom (?) asked about blood work; yesterday, Michael's platelets were apparently a "smidge" low.
• 6:21  Dr. Monaco (works w/Dr. Gardner) introduced himself.
• 6:55  Dr. Gardner stopped by and signed-off; mentioned Michael will probably be in ICU only overnight.
• 7:07  Dr. Caldwell visited again; had to go look for his anesthesiology consent form.
• 7:11  Susan (?) attached IVs.
• 7:20  Christine (nurse) came by to make sure everything was signed. 
• 7:22  ??? returned with blood test results; platelets are still "on the low side"  (That just means they'll be prepared to give them if needed during the operation.)
• 7:42  Yvonne (anesthesiology student) asked Michael the same questions everyone else had asked.
• 7:46  Emily, who will be Michael's nurse during the operation introduced herself (really sweet; was able to calm Michael's nerves a bit).
• 7:50  Michael was rolled away from me and I found my way back to the lounge.

And here we sit.  If you've gotten this far, our phones are off in the lounge, but we have great wi-fi, so we'll communicate by email, Facebook and blog.  Now's the time for those prayers and good thoughts, of which there have already been many, and for which we are so grateful...

And now, your surprise!  Undoubtedly perturbed by my all-out media coverage of his operation,  I nevertheless convinced Michael to record a brief message for everyone who's been thinking and reading about him.