Back in Time, Filling in Details

I have long promised that I would go back and fill in the details to make this a complete story. Now, years later, I'm keeping that promise.

Let's start with a quick update. I am doing well, only a few scars are left to remind me of the surgery. I still have a fairly significant scar that runs down the middle of my chest, but it has faded quite nicely. As an interesting side effect, there is particular spot on my chest, the size of a finger tip, where I have no feeling what so ever. Scars where the chest tubes were inserted are also still evident. Finally, there are a couple of scars on my left leg, that are only visible if I happen to not be wearing any pants.

For this entry, my goal is to describe the first few minutes after I awoke as I remember them.

I clearly recall waking up, feeling the respirator, but being entirely at peace with the intrusion. I also remember people being in my room, people other than my daughters. The biggest surprise to me then and now is how natural and calm it all felt. I knew I could not speak so I used my right hand to spell the names of my daughters in the air. Upon recognizing that I was signally, someone left the room to fetch them. I do not know if they read what I was spelling, but I doubt it.

Soon enough my daughters were in the room and it seemed like it wasn't long before the medical staff took me off the respirator as well. That process was surprisingly easy. I can only guess that the drugs they had me on kept me calm, because it all seemed so peaceful and serene. I remember being very happy to see my daughters and at the same time worried that I must have been a very scary site. I do not recall any pain from those first few hours.

That is all for this post, I plan to go into the time in the intensive care next.