As I became more awake and aware, my surgeon came back to talk to my husband and me. He said that the surgery only took 6 1/2 hours and everything went relatively well. He said that they removed about two thirds of my pancreas and both of my spleens. I never took Anatomy in school, but I'm pretty sure a human should only have one spleen. Always one for bucking the trends, I was born with two, a normal one and an "accessory" one. A mini-me, if you will. I think everyone should have an accessory spleen, they go with everything. The surgeon was pretty excited to find two spleens, guess you don't see that everyday. I suppose for surgeons it's like the feeling when you find a crumpled dollar in your pocket. Anyway, Dr. Dad-from-Alf said that I was very lucky and would make a full recovery without having to have chemo, take insulin or have any further abdominal surgeries. I was so exhausted that I don't remember anything else until about 2 days later. I know that I was somehow magically transferred to a private room, a huge one with a beautiful view of the city and the mountains in the background, but how I got there, I really don't know. The only downside was being right next to the landing pad of the LifeFlight helicopters. It wasn't only noisy, but kind of a downer. My surgeon came back to check on me and to have me sign papers turning over custody of my tumor to the school. To say that was a weird moment would be an understatement. I almost thought about saying no and keeping Ted in a jar next to my bed. The doctor told me that the tumor was rare and would be cut in 8 pieces and transferred to various schools to be studied. I was expecting to be paid handsomely for this wonderful opportunity that I was giving the students. I was thinking a library could be named after me, some royalties from the schools, an honorary doctorate and maybe being asked to be the keynote speaker at graduation. I was assured that none of this would happen. If only he knew that it wasn't the Percoset talking, I really am that bizarre. So, I signed over full custody of Ted, giving my consent for a piece of me to be cut up, studied and discussed. I think maybe I feel a little honored...aaand a little creeped out. I'm sure that in a few years I will be approached to donate my overactive brain to science for future generations to ponder and fear. It could happen.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
A Tale of Two Spleens
As I became more awake and aware, my surgeon came back to talk to my husband and me. He said that the surgery only took 6 1/2 hours and everything went relatively well. He said that they removed about two thirds of my pancreas and both of my spleens. I never took Anatomy in school, but I'm pretty sure a human should only have one spleen. Always one for bucking the trends, I was born with two, a normal one and an "accessory" one. A mini-me, if you will. I think everyone should have an accessory spleen, they go with everything. The surgeon was pretty excited to find two spleens, guess you don't see that everyday. I suppose for surgeons it's like the feeling when you find a crumpled dollar in your pocket. Anyway, Dr. Dad-from-Alf said that I was very lucky and would make a full recovery without having to have chemo, take insulin or have any further abdominal surgeries. I was so exhausted that I don't remember anything else until about 2 days later. I know that I was somehow magically transferred to a private room, a huge one with a beautiful view of the city and the mountains in the background, but how I got there, I really don't know. The only downside was being right next to the landing pad of the LifeFlight helicopters. It wasn't only noisy, but kind of a downer. My surgeon came back to check on me and to have me sign papers turning over custody of my tumor to the school. To say that was a weird moment would be an understatement. I almost thought about saying no and keeping Ted in a jar next to my bed. The doctor told me that the tumor was rare and would be cut in 8 pieces and transferred to various schools to be studied. I was expecting to be paid handsomely for this wonderful opportunity that I was giving the students. I was thinking a library could be named after me, some royalties from the schools, an honorary doctorate and maybe being asked to be the keynote speaker at graduation. I was assured that none of this would happen. If only he knew that it wasn't the Percoset talking, I really am that bizarre. So, I signed over full custody of Ted, giving my consent for a piece of me to be cut up, studied and discussed. I think maybe I feel a little honored...aaand a little creeped out. I'm sure that in a few years I will be approached to donate my overactive brain to science for future generations to ponder and fear. It could happen.
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