Sara/Re: Choo choo, calling Passenger Caboose for June Train

[Guest guest]

My fav Sara,

Words can't express how much I appreciate you being here with me

every step of the way of this long journey to the other side! You

will always, and I mean always, hold a special place in my heart.

This is something that I will never forget.

I remember right before your surgery, I felt the same like I was

going right in there with you inside the OR! We have built such a

bond between us that will be with us a lifetime!

Okay, all this is bringing tears to my eyes. I am going to stop

here before my coworkers think something is wrong...(haha) Thank

you so much for the great shopping list! I will be shopping all

weekend thanks to my Sara girl!

You know I will chat with you before Tuesday!

Big hugs to ya,

--Caboose

> My dearest Caboose,

>

> Well it looks like your departure date is fast approaching! You

know

> it's funny because since you ended your time warp and hit the 10

day

> pre-op time zone time has been flying for me too, almost as if I

was

> coming in for surgery with you! And I suppose I am because I will

be

> there in spirit holding your hand all throughout the process, ya

> hear me?! And if you feel a little tear of fear creep out of those

> eyes I'll be at hand with a hanky to wipe them away. I actually

had

> a wee little cry on the OR table as they were putting me to sleep.

> It was the first time that i cried pre-surgery and I guess the

only

> time I allowed myself to realize that I was scared. Well needless

to

> say I survived and it was NOT BAD AT ALL!! And you will survive

and

> excel at this ordeal too, I'm sure!

>

> So when do you find out whether your jaw will be segmented or not?

> Only on the actual day of surgery, on Tuesday? I'll keep my

fingers,

> ears, arms and legs crossed for you until then that they are able

to

> do surgery without segmenting your jaw in 3 and therefore allow

you

> to be as Carol says, sans splint!! Whooohhoooo!

>

> I went out last night for my first official dinner post-op. I had

> dinner with my mom and one of my close friends at a Moroccan

> restaurant. I adore Maroccan food. Anyway, it was sort of

torturous

> because I couldn't order a lot of the stuff I wanted but I did

have

> my beloved houmous (scraped it into my mouth with a fork) and I

> ordered a saffron, peas and tomatoes risotto. Delish!!! Love

having

> all these new flavors again. By the way, for the first few days

post-

> op I recommend using a baby spoon because since your mouth will be

> numb you won't feel anything and I wouldn't want you poking

yourself

> by accident. Ouch:-( Also, I'm sure you have all of the below but

> here's a quick list of stuff I couldn't have lived without post-op:

>

> Aquaphor for chapped lips

> Cu-tips to clean nose with since you can't blow your nose (grosse

I

> know but it really helped me)

> Humidifier to help you with breathing

> Flonase and Afrin to spray into nose

> Tissues galore

> Blender (I know your mom is bringing the mother of all blenders)

> Baby toothbrush

> Peridex mouthwash

> Lots of comfy pillows to fit around me in bed or on the sofa

> Whiteboard and markers

> iPOD or any music playing device

> Computer!!!

> Face cleaning products (my skin was and still is very icky post-op)

> An assortment of ice packs to put on your face (I had a bag of

> frozen peas, a medical ice pack and one of those face masks that

you

> can put in the freezer to freeze and then cool your face. I would

> alternate between the different bags whenever I would ice)

> Face cloths to soak in hot water to do hot packs on my face (I

only

> started doing this after 10 days to help with the swelling. ALWAYS

> confirm with your doc. first before doing this)

> Arnica cream

> Lots of yummy juices to drink

> A variety of recipes for stuff to blend up

> Plastic cups to drink out of

> Baby spoons

> Paper napkins

>

> Mmmm that's all I can think of for now but I'll email you more

> options when I think of them.

>

> Now as for this weekend you are under strict orders to EAT YOUR

> HEART AWAY and enjoy yourself as much as possible!! The June train

> is happily waiting for you an mini-rascal before it departs

> definitely to the other side!

>

> Sara xx