Pre-Operative Assessment Day

Kyra's pre-operative assessments were scheduled for two weeks before surgery. This series of appointments lasted about 5 hours, and included a bone density scan, spinal series x-rays, medical assessment with the orthopaedic nursing staff, exam and discussion with the surgeon, further medical assessment with the anesthesiology staff, exam and discussion with the anesthesiologist, and lab work. Then it was time for fun in the swimming pool with Dad!

What we learned today:

• The Barnes-Jewish hospital complex is BIG: Wear comfy tennies!
• It is impossible to lie completely still for 2 minutes... when you've just been told that you have to lie completely still for 2 minutes.  Looking at photos of friends, family, and pets helps.
• Elbow-length lead gloves are very heavy: It takes two radiology technicians to help Kyra try them on for size.
• Navigating hospital directional signage get easier with practice.  Even while speeding down ramps and yelling "WHEE!"
• Hospitals are cold: Bring a blankie!
• Hospitals don't break for lunch: Bring lots of snacks.
• My brain can hold only so much information at one time: Bring a notebook and pen!
• Kyra's surgeon knows what he's doing. What's more, he didn't make us feel stupid for asking the same questions over and over and over.  Like, will Kyra be able to ride horses again? (yes!) Will Kyra be in pain in the future because of the surgery? (no!) In fact, he seemed to get more patient with each question.
• The compassion of the 6th floor surgical reception staff is awesome.  I'm just sayin'.
• Anesthesiologists take their job very seriously.  Very. Seriously.  And, they have way cool technology that lets them monitor patient status with every heartbeat.
• Kyra is very brave.  Eleven vials of blood, and not one flinch.  Kudos to phlebotomist Tamika, who drew all of Kyra's blood with a single needle poke, remembered to use the fancy band-aid, and didn't even leave a bruise.