Saddle up your horses
We've got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder of God's Amazing grace
Let's follow our leader into the Glorious unknown
This is the life like no other whoa whoa
This is the great adventure
~ from The Great Adventure by Steven Curtis Chapman
I started out my morning thinking about the best place to park. All of my appointments were on the south end of the property, and I was trying to figure out how we could park on the fifth floor near the first doctor's office. I decided it would be quite an adventure to ride around in the parking lot on a quest for the perfect parking spot. The old Steven Curtis Chapman song "The Great Adventure" came to my mind. You won't believe this, but a few seconds later that same song came on the radio in the truck! Do you think that was a coincidence?
Here is Michael's idea of how to begin a great adventure.
It's a good thing I do not care for Krispy Kreme or coffee, because I had to be fasting.
My first visit today was with the cardiologist, to make sure my heart is healthy enough to withstand the surgery. Fun fact: I have a patent foramen oval (PFO), which is a tiny hole between the upper chambers of my heart. This is not a big deal, and I was born with it. The hole is supposed to close at birth, and about 25% of the population has this condition. This was discovered with the exiting "bubble echo" I had yesterday. The visit went well and she said I was a boring patient, which is a good thing!
Vanderbilt, you need to step it up with your gift shop! That is all.
From there I went back to hospital radiology. They had already decorated for Christmas.
I had a VQ scan, or ventilation/perfusion study. This test shows how air gets in and out of the lungs, and how blood flows to the lungs. It is done in the nuclear medicine area, because radioactive materials are used.
First I had to breathe the radioactive material through a nebulizer. It was harder than it sounds. I had to keep my mouth tightly around the tube, and there was a clamp on my nose. I was lying on my back, and it did not take long for me to feel like I could not breathe. The techs were great at reassuring me, but the five minutes seemed like an eternity.
How is this for a selfie?
Would I like a warm blanket? Is that even a question?!?!?! The warm blanket makes up for a multitude of sticks.
Next I had to lie in a scanner while cameras rotated around me, so they could trace the radioactive substance as it came in and out of my lungs (ventilation). That was not bad at all. It took about 15 minutes.
After that, they had to start an IV (yes, really) so they could administer intravenous radioactive material. They were able to do this with only two sticks! Then we repeated the part with the cameras to see how my blood carried the substance to my lungs (perfusion).
Don't worry- I am not radioactive. It was just a tiny bit!
When they wrapped my hand after removing the IV, they coordinated the wrap with my blouse. Or perhaps that is Vanderbilt blue.
After that, I had a chest X-ray, and a panoramic film of my mandible and maxilla- like the X-ray the dentist takes.
Michael has decided to share a recommendation: bring a backpack for your stuff. I am hurt that he did not like carrying my Brighton bag.
My last visit was with the nutritionist. She asked my what I eat in a typical day-um.....jelly beans, cookies, chocolate, twizzlers, oh- and maybe a few vegetables and a little protein. I redeemed myself when I told her I mostly only drink water. Basically she went over all the things I should be eating now, and all the things I would be eating after transplant.
It was a full day, but not as jam packed as yesterday. We have a kitchenette in our room, so I sent Michael to Kroger to bring something to prepare here, as I did not want to get out. Maybe I should have been more specific.
All through the day, the Great Adventure song played in my head. What a wonderful adventure we get to experience every day with God. The lyrics have taken on new meaning for me. Enjoy this video from the 80s- I know you had the big hair and shoulder pads- don't deny it!
Here is a version that was re-released for the 25th anniversary of this powerful song. It is fun to see the differences.
I am saddling up my horses for tomorrow, only I am adding a coat and umbrella.
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