Update from Cleveland Clinic~ Pre-Op Appointment Day!

Of course, the first thing that most of you are checking in about is Mom's day at Cleveland Clinic. But first, I must tell you about our adventures in transportation so you will just have to read through to the end.. One of the reasons that we selected the hotel that we are in is its relatively close proximity to the Clinic and the other being a reasonably priced suite. Being downtown (and did I mention the snow and 20* temps) we naturally made transportation a priority. After checking into the hotel this weekend we double checked with the valet on the published shuttle to the Clinic schedule. Now, perhaps it is just me but when someone diagrams a schedule as 8->12 and 4->8 I interpret that as "eight until twelve, etc". I guess in Cleveland it is different because that actually means 4 shuttles a day! You guessed it at 8, 12, 4, and 8 pm. When you have appointments starting at 10 and ending at 1:45 that isn't what we consider primo accommodations. We now have the name and number of a cabbie that we can call as needed.
So, on to todays update. It was a most informative and productive day. Mom had her pre-op tests.. EKG, blood work, chest xrays, staph screening.. yes, I said Staph screening! How awesome is that? This hospital is extremely serious about post operative infections so every patient is screened for staph, and Mom was given a special antibacterial bath gel to use tomorrow night and Wednesday morning prior to surgery. We received so much surgical info that they provide a tote to carry it in. I told Mom and Dad to "study, because there would be a quiz tomorrow". We had a consult with the surgeon's PA (physician assistant) and the anesthesiologist (am I getting old or are these doctors really getting younger?). We see the surgeon tomorrow and will get all of the details. Basically we know this. Mom is scheduled for surgery early Wednesday morning, March 3, around 7 am. We will arrive at 5:15, I am planning on wearing my pj's and slippers, and get to stay with Mom in pre-op until they take her back to the OR.We will be given a digital pager to take to the waiting room that will be updated from the surgical unit on a regular basis. Pretty cool. Her surgery is scheduled at this time for the myectomy due to the cardiomyoptemy, double bypass, review and possible repair of her mitral valve and possibly repair to her thoracic aortic aneurysm. Confused? That is ok, the doctors have it all figured out. It is several procedures, but she is glad to have as much done in one surgery as they feel is safe. Here's where she gets to be really special. The surgical team will consist of 9 doctors and three nurses plus 4-5 Fellows that will be observing. Mom decided to donate the overgrown muscle that they are removing from her heart (that is the myectomy procedure) for research. Maybe it will help find a way to better diagnose this disease. The surgery is expected to be from 6-8 hours. Whew.. that is a lot for one days' update. Mom is feeling pretty good, though her blood pressure is now too low, so they have taken her off of her blood pressure meds. They say it is likely because she is now in WEEK 10 of Nicotine Freedom!!! Another reason for you; yes, you there that said that they couldn't do it, to stop smoking! It helps your blood pressure. I am so proud of her. Oh, incidentally, Dad cornered at least three people today in the waiting room and told them corny jokes. Everything is normal.
Until tomorrow
Cheryl