Bypass Surgery

My partner of 30+ years, Bob, goes in to Sunnybrook for double, possibly triple, bypass surgery Tuesday, January 24. We’ve known for some months that this was to happen. As a non-drinker, non-smoker who walks an hour a day & eats pretty well he is as fit as possible. His surgeon is one of the best in North America. Sunnybrook Cardiac is state of the art.

The surgery takes about 4 hours. I can call 3 hours after that for an update. He’ll be in ICU for at least 24 hours & if all goes well he’ll have a room by Thursday -which is when I can visit. I know as ‘family,’ I can bully my way in but there’s no pressing need for me to get in their way. If he can, he’ll phone on Wednesday anyway & perhaps I’ll be able to visit Wednesday night.

We are as prepared as we can be for any eventuality. The one preferred is him coming home in a week to continue enjoy a full life. The other possibility is making me sick to my stomach. The worry comes in short flare-ups as opposed to a constant fretting.

I can deal with small change but something this major is stressful. Not because I’m emotionally, mentally, spiritually weak but because somethings are hard to face. So hard no one is eager to face them.

They say a worry shared is a worry halved – so I’m talking about this pretty openly. Being strong and silent only leads to isolation and alienation – been there done that and it wasn’t the solution.

Your prayers, good vibes, candles lit – all welcome.