Love you, mama part III

The surgery was successful.  The doctor said there were basically two options for mom’s split aorta: option A was to put in a synthetic aorta.  This would be made of a sort of aortic type material and would do the job, however, this replacement valve was likely to be rejected by mom’s body and she would have to be rushed back in again.  Even if that didn’t happen, the synthetic aorta would have to be replaced repeatedly.  Not often, but having open heart surgery once is one time too many.  Option B involved the replacement of the aorta with another human aorta.  This option was better in than option A because it was actually made out of human parts but again it may be rejected.  Also to would have to be replaced.  How was the doctor able to choose between the two evils?

                It turns out he didn’t have to.  He told us that instead of using the artificial or other aorta, he was able to repair mom’s torn aorta.  This was great news to hear because mom having her own major artery healing and mending then she hopefully wouldn’t have to have open heart surgery again. 

                After hearing the good news we decided to go home and rest.  I remember when we were able to actually see her after her surgery.  There were only two visitors allowed in at one time as to not over load the patients.  Mom was hooked up to every machine you could think of.  There were tubes in her wrists and arms.  Tubes in the upper part of her chest.  There were also tubes up her nose and mouth.  Her eyes were closed and she looked like she was sleeping.  You could see the long bandage down the middle of her chest peeking out of the top of her hospital gown.  She was hopped up on pain meds.  She didn’t look like mom really.  She looked like a fail, tired woman who needed love and attention.

                She was wake for other visits and at first still a little loopy from the drugs.  She told us later that she doesn’t remember anything the few days after her surgery.  Crazy what drugs can do. 

                Anyways, there was no rush for her to get out of the hospital.  She was healing very nicely, even walking around and stuff.  The only problem was her emphysema.  This is a problem that occurs do to sudden large intake of smoke or gradual intake of smoke over time.  Mom was a smoker for a looooooooooong time, so some of the alveoli in her lungs died.  These cells are responsible for transferring oxygen to the blood.  This problem was the only thing that kept mom down in the recliner in our living room for so long.  She had to breathe with an oxygen machine and not do too much work.

                Now a days she drives a school bus and does mom stuff.  My family and I are really fortunate to have her in our lives.  And if we didn’t know that before, we sure do know that now.

Talk to you later

Devi

Ali, Mom, and I last easter

Mom and I on mother's day