And Now We Wait

By Secondhand Karl on September 3rd, 2008

Waiting room

I’m at Florida Hospital in Orlando for Mom’s heart catheterization. She just went in to get prepped and now I’m in the waiting room with free coffee and wifi. Brought my laptop, of course, because there’s a chance I may have to stay overnight. If Mom needs a stent put in while they’re in there, she’ll stay overnight and I’ll be crashing over at Avitable’s house.

Now I can stay in touch and work here while I wait for her to be finished. Normally, hospitals creep me out, but this one’s not so bad. You know it’s a confusing hospital, though, when they hand out directions to the cardiac unit at the front desk.

“Make a right into the other lobby, take Elevator A down to mine shaft. Put on miner’s helmet, get in mining cart, and ride 25 minutes into the bowels of hell. Get out, head to second cavern on right, take Elevator G to 3rd floor…” Etc. etc.

I asked Mom as we were driving here whether she’s worried and she said she was a little bit. Being a nurse, she knows just what the procedure involves and what sorts of complications can arise. Me being the SON of a nurse, I have heard the word “catheter” before and that’s about it. Oh, and I’ve heard of a heart, too.

If you follow me on Twitter, I’ll keep you posted throughout the day. Keep your fingers crossed, say some prayers (if you’re so inclined), and I’ll let you know how it goes in tomorrow’s post.

And don’t forget to enter the Birthday Dares contest! I don’t have nearly enough entries! Pass the word!


37 Responses to “And Now We Wait”

  1. tori on September 3, 2008 11:19 am

    I will think good thoughts for both you and your mom.

    Reply

  2. kat on September 3, 2008 11:22 am

    knocking on wood, crossing fingers and toes, avoiding cracks in the sidewalk and black cats alike!

    Reply

  3. becky on September 3, 2008 11:28 am

    I swear, us nurses make the worst patients! I second what Kat is doing. The two of you are in my thoughts.

    Reply

  4. Pam D on September 3, 2008 11:39 am

    I’ve been through this with my mom too. I’m thinking good thoughts for both of you!

    Reply

  5. hello haha narf on September 3, 2008 11:42 am

    still praying for you both. now i gotta go dust off twitter and fire her up so that i can stay in the loop about jo momma.

    love to you both

    Reply

  6. B.E. Earl on September 3, 2008 12:03 pm

    Best of luck.

    I know complications can arise, but this has become a fairly standard procedure. Trust the doctors and your mother’s toughness. Again…good luck!

    Reply

  7. Poppy on September 3, 2008 12:06 pm

    Best of luck to your mom, Karl.

    Reply

  8. John on September 3, 2008 12:14 pm

    Best to Mom, Karl. : )

    Reply

  9. penny on September 3, 2008 12:28 pm

    I’ll be thinking of you both.

    Reply

  10. Lucy on September 3, 2008 12:33 pm

    I’m sure she’ll be fine Karl! She’s in my thoughts today and I’ll be watching Twitter for news.

    Reply

  11. Crys on September 3, 2008 12:36 pm

    i’ll be keeping a good thought for her…

    Reply

  12. Penelope on September 3, 2008 12:50 pm

    Best wishes to you and your Mum today Karl :o )

    Reply

  13. Jeff on September 3, 2008 1:00 pm

    Tell you mom not to worry. My dad has 4 stents and my mom has 3 – all with no complications. Come to think of it, that doesn’t bode well for me, does it?

    Good luck mom, I’ll be thinking of you!

    Reply

  14. Whit on September 3, 2008 1:14 pm

    I hope everything is okay!

    Reply

  15. PocketCT on September 3, 2008 1:35 pm

    oh Karl I know how tough this is! I hope your mom comes through just fine. I’m sending good thoughts!

    Reply

  16. g-man on September 3, 2008 1:35 pm

    Hope your mom is doing well. Prayers are with you and your family.

    Reply

  17. kapgar on September 3, 2008 1:41 pm

    I’m pulling for her, man.

    And I’m right there with you on confusing hospitals. My mom was in one a few months back. You can tell it was designed and built in phases as there is no rhyme or reason to it and navigating both it and the parking lots is nearly impossible. You could die of old age just trying to get where you need to be… and they’d never find you.

    Reply

  18. Avitable on September 3, 2008 1:42 pm

    Is this your mom’s usual doctor or did you guys just find him/her for this particular procedure?

    I’m just wondering what made you choose this hospital over others.

    Hope things go okay!

    Reply

  19. DutchBitch on September 3, 2008 2:27 pm

    Good luck Hon!!!

    Reply

  20. Kyra on September 3, 2008 2:57 pm

    *hugs*

    Reply

  21. Secondhand Karl on September 3, 2008 4:49 pm

    Thanks, everyone. Mom is doing fine. They put a stent in because one of her arteries was 99% blocked. Not good, but glad they caught it. She’ll be staying overnight, at least. If her heart gets back into a normal rhythm then she can go home tomorrow. If not, she’ll stay another night.

    Reply

  22. wendy on September 3, 2008 5:47 pm

    Well, I’m so glad they found the blockage and corrected it.

    You are being a great son.

    Reply

  23. metalmom on September 3, 2008 6:18 pm

    I went through this with my FIL and my own father. It’s never easy to wait. I lit a candle for you.

    Reply

  24. Sarah on September 3, 2008 6:20 pm

    Glad they found that blocked artery and that she’s resting now.

    Hope she gets to go home tomorrow!

    Reply

  25. Secondhand Karl on September 3, 2008 6:32 pm

    Appreciate it, gang. I should be here another half hour or so, then it’s off to dinner. Haven’t eaten since breakfast. Back here in the morning, though.

    Reply

  26. libragirl on September 3, 2008 7:44 pm

    I will keep you and your mom in my thoughts

    Reply

  27. SciFi Dad on September 3, 2008 8:52 pm

    Spending time in the cardiac wing isn’t fun. I’ve been there. It can be scary shit.

    I’ll have a good thought for your mom.

    (And food for thought: imagine being the guy who brought KFC for his post-heart-operation father who refused to eat hospital food. Um, yeah.)

    Reply

  28. Anissa@Hope4Peyton on September 3, 2008 10:03 pm

    You absolutely have my prayers, Karl. Hoping you are already rolling in good news and mom-patient-nurse demands.

    Reply

  29. Kris/Chicka on September 3, 2008 10:11 pm

    Hang in there sweetie. We’re keeping good thoughts for the moms.

    Reply

  30. Hilly on September 3, 2008 10:33 pm

    Lots of love and prayers.

    Reply

  31. Foo on September 3, 2008 11:05 pm

    Huge healing vibes being sent to your Mom. Hope everything from here on out goes smoothly.
    Take Care.

    Reply

  32. Winter on September 4, 2008 1:57 am

    Sending good karma for a swift recovery for your Mom!

    Reply

  33. Michelle on September 4, 2008 8:16 am

    Glad to hear she’s doing okay. Hopefully she’ll get to go home today. How are you holding up?

    Reply

  34. Jenny, Bloggess on September 4, 2008 10:19 am

    God I hate hospitals. And catheters.

    Sending healing thoughts…

    Reply

  35. Secondhand Karl on September 4, 2008 10:34 am

    I’ll be posting an update shortly. Thanks for all the support.

    Reply

  36. sandra on September 7, 2008 12:00 am

    Fingers and toes crossed for your mom, and I hope you’re hanging in there; I know how hard it is to feel helpless!

    Reply

  37. Secondhand Karl on September 8, 2008 1:04 am

    Sandra – Thanks. She’s doing great now and is back home.

    Reply

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