| Okay, Let's Go I vividly remember standing in that hospital room hugging my sisters as they wished me the best and told me they loved me. As I walked out of the room to head to the elevator I turned around to get one last look at them. They were standing there looking so vulnerable. We were all in tears anyway. I felt like I should be staying behind to comfort them. Their presence gave me great fortitude. I walked away hoping our relationship could become even stronger. They later told me after I left they stood there hugging each other for several minutes. It was then they realized the power of my conviction. I was actually going to do it. They were seeing first hand what I was willing to endure to make my life more complete. I am immensely grateful for the love and support they gave to me at that pivotal juncture in my life. It's a blessing that every TS should have when the big day arrives. The nurse accompanied me to the elevator and upstairs to a gurney. I remember looking down at my painted toenails and thinking how cute they looked. Wow, talk about being relaxed. I had my diskman in hand as I made the slow walk closer to my destiny. She helped me get settled on the gurney and then told me they weren't going to let me listen to the CD while I was out. That was a major bummer. I slipped on the headphones and began to listen to the music CD from my "successful surgery" CD set nonetheless. The area I was in was a staging area for all the patients who were awaiting various forms of plastic surgery. At one point there were two other women waiting with me. They cackled the whole time. They were ruining the ambiance for my last cherished moments of anticipation. If only I could have reached over and slapped them un-silly. It was a relief when they were finally wheeled away. Dr. M�nard came into the room after he was done with Janet to tell me it would be about another fifteen minutes. All told I waited upstairs about 45 minutes before the anesthesiologist came to wheel me into the operating room. It would have been nice to have spent that time with my sisters instead of the cackling dodos. I was completely calm as I was wheeled into the operating room. There was very little going through my mind. I was quite surprised how much my emotions had settled. The time was finally here and I knew I was primed to be Dr. M�nard's canvas. He took a few photos of my nose before they started prepping me for the surgery. Dr. M�nard also set up the stirrups as the anesthesiologist inserted the needle in my arm. At that point I was told I would begin to feel a little drowsy. As they wrapped my legs I remember looking up at the clock.....it was 11:55 am. I didn't feel any concerns whatsoever. There I was, about to undergo the knife in order to facilitate a better life. It certainly had to be the biggest moment of my life, and yet it was all so anti-climactic as I heard the anesthesiologist ask me if I was ready. I remember the classical music playing in the background as he said "Okay, let's go", and in an instant the world disappeared all around me. It was all up to Dr. M�nard now. Back Next |