And we're off...

They just wheeled Harry into the OR. Harry wouldn't let me take a photo, so picture this: The ubiquitous blue hospital gown, the (matching) blue net shower cap (a small tuft of hair sticks out of the front), a just-warmed blanket wrapped around him, bright red slipper socks, his Zune on an armband attached to his right arm, an IV in his left arm, attached to a pole on wheels. Picture a pretty young woman talking to him about the monitoring technique she uses, picture Harry asking about the monitoring technique and outcome-based medical procedures.

The anesthesiologist comes in--handsome, dark skinned, salt and pepper hair, big brown eyes, a warm comforting smile. Patiently asking and answering questions. Warmly promising to take good care of him.

Picture the surgeon--you saw his face in a previous post--and now here he is in person, sharp, energetic, athletic, confident. Explaining the procedure--two parts. The first is called XLIF. They make a small incision on his side--remove the herniated disc material from two levels of the lumbar spine, straighten the vertebrae (he has scoliosis) and put spacers between the vertebrae. Then they place him on his stomach and make a larger incision in his back and do what he refers to as a traditional laminectomy . Fill the space between the vertebrae with Harry's own bone. Tie it all together with titanium rods and screws. You can see that the surgeon loves his work, is eager to get started. He promises to take good care of Harry and goes into the OR.

Back to the anesthesiologist. More questions. Promises--to keep him asleep and alive during the long procedure. To stay with him the whole time. To control his pain afterward.

Another man wearing scrubs comes out and introduces himself as a nurse who will assist during surgery. Then an older female nurse--asking him what procedure he's having today. he answers--correctly--we kiss, and they roll him into the OR.

'Bye, love.