We’re home with a fancy new port in P’s neck. The procedure was pretty easy – much more waiting around and prep time than actual surgery.

Dr. Altom put the port in – she is so great. The very first thing she told me when she came to the waiting room was that the leprechaun tattoo was in tact… the incision went right along the top of the hat and the port is in the faded spot in the hat. She was very pleased with herself.

And since P was on versed and kept forgetting everything, every time he looked at it, it made him laugh. It was rather entertaining.

It looks a little wonky – the port has a catheter that feeds up through his jugular. On an older person, you can’t really see it, but right now it’s kinda obvious. Good thing I can crochet and his new scarf is almost finished.

We’re getting to know the lay of the land at the hospital – we knew the intake nurse from last time, I can give directions to lost looking patients, and the discharge instructions are old hat. We even had two extra familiar faces – the nurse anesthetist is married to an old friend of mine. Even though we hadn’t met before, he and his wife have been friends on Facebook for a long time, and were good friends back in high school (she was my prom date. 🙂 ) There was something very comfortable about sending him off with a friend.

OH! And the anesthesiologist… oh we knew him, too. He was the one that did my first epidural when I had Conor. Yeah, first, meaning it didn’t work. And when he checked on me the next day he was all, “So you’re the one that screwed up my batting average.”

It’s a good thing he took care of my husband and that he really truly remembers nothing because I was about to let him have it! 🙂

Anyways, all is well. We’re fully stocked on delicious food and baked goods – thanks to everyone involved in that effort (especially my sister who is an angel for coordinating it all.) The plan is still to start chemo on Wednesday. He’s in good spirits and the fact that he let me take a picture before the procedure proves it.

I’ll keep you posted.