Within 15 minutes Dr. Perez’s O.R. team came in. They checked my vital signs, verified my information and bless their hearts got me into the bathroom without a flasher incident. From then on I was in the hands of God’s angels. Professional, kind and caring angels who remembered to speak English so I could understand them.
“Are you getting sleepy yet?” I realize as I am laying on the OR table that my nurse friend is speaking to me. “No, not really. I’m just chillin’ listening to everyone talking. Should I be sleepy?” She looks at me a little puzzled and replies ” Well, they gave you IV medication already and you should be asleep.” “Oh, I was waiting to hear the time out” I said. She replied “We’ll just give you a touch more medication, OK?” Next thing I know I’m feeling a little woozie, kind of like the feeling when that last rum punch finally sneaks up on you. Floating like a little balloon. Not yet Amy, you haven’t heard the, what was that thing again, oh ya the time out. Then I hear it, 6 positive replies to the all important time out. (For those of you who are non-medical a “time out” is the last check before the surgery begins, it’s when everyone in the OR hears the patient name, area to be operated on etc, and all verbally agree.) Everyone did, in English, thank you so very much. To their great relief and mine it’s lights out, I am off to the land of nod.
Harmony At Sea 