The Tumor That Changed My Life

Preparing for Surgery

On October 25th I mostly rested and goofed off on the computer. It was nothing special. It was going to be my last normal day for a long time.

That night I had to wash my entire body in antibacterial soap. I washed my hair, my body, even my feet in a too that smelled of hospital. It was almost sickening.

I went to bed as early as possible so I could wake up early the next morning. I think I got a solid 9 hours of sleep that night. I was still tired in the morning.

The next morning I got up at 5 to take another antibacterial shower. It was 6 by the time I got out of the shower. It was also storming. We left the house at 6:30. It was just me, my dad, and my little brother in the car. His teacher agreed to come in to school early to watch him. I clearly remember watching the rain hit the car windows as my dad walked him in to school.

When my dad got back in the car we started driving to the children's hospital. I don't remember much of the short drive from school to the hospital. I think we talked, but I'm not sure what about.

I barely remember anything from here until about a day after surgery. I remember getting out of the car, and talking to the lady at the front desk. Then, I was escorted into a small room and given a hospital gown. I remember talking to my neurosurgeon and filling out a screening form with my dad and the nurse. One of the last things I remember was taking a pill to ease my nerves and being left alone with my dad. I think I hugged him and then everything gets very blurry and confusing. Apparently he went into the operating room with me and was with me while the nurses put me under.