July 8, 2010- the first step for my nose reconstruction has started. It was my very first surgery that I've had in the U.S. and I was very happy it is coming along now. I was hoping for less pain but that is very impossible for surgeries.
We have all been talking about my nose surgeries from the last couple months. Hearing all those plans from my doctors are very heart nerving but I know they will take care of me while I am in the O.R with them. I met a lot of my doctors, one of them is Dr. John Persing- the head of Craniofacial Surgery, and mostly anesthesia doctors, who are responsible for making me sleep while they are working to the process. Each appointment are all about news and updates for my first surgery. And July came along, my first surgery was scheduled for July 8, and I was very nervous. No foods after midnight! My guardian, Dorita Urrata, picked me up at my house I was living in and we went to Yale New Haven Hospital for the surgery. I was nervous and I was praying while in the car. I called my family and let them know I was going in for a surgery. They were very very happy and they are praying with me. I know everything will be fine and I have faith to all my doctors. I remembered seeing all the anesthesia doctors talking about how they're gonna put me to sleep and how easy it will be. Last person I saw was Dr. Persing, and after he talked to me, I calmed down so quickly. Dorita was there for me, and she won't leave the hospital until the surgery is done.
There it is! Operating Room! All I remembered seeing were all these nurses' preparing the tools that the doctors will need to get done the surgery. I saw Heather Kaufman, talking to me and making me not nervous. One nurse giving me shot, anesthesia shot, and three people were talking to me and while I was talking and talking, I then fall asleep. That was all what I remembered from the O.R.
I woke up after the surgery, of course in pain. I couldn't talk and I couldn't move. My mouth is very sore and swollen. My guardian was there behind my bed, with her big smile on her face. I tried to smile but just too impossible for me to do it. At least- a little bit smile I did. I was in so much pain and I woke up very thirsty. I took pain killers each time the pain will hit me. It wasn't fun at all! 3 hours after, we went home and I was in recovery for 8-10 days. No hard foods! Not allowed to eat anything but soft foods- baby foods, soups, fruits, yogurt, etc. I don't know if everyone can survive with eating baby foods for 10 days, but I know I did. I knew it won't be good for me, not fun, not exciting, and irritating but I believe that I didn't forced myself to be in that situation. It was for my health and my doctors told me to do so. I follow rules! Ten days after, wedding was going on at our house. A friend of ours got married and I was invited (of course, it was held in our house). Had to dress nice and be prepared. Help organizing as well. No heavy lifting but I wasn't lifting things up, just cleaning and washing dishes. On the pictures above, that's me with my graduation dress. That was during the wedding of our friends. We had a lot of fun though. Dancing and Karaoke was a blast! I was recovering really good and everything was fine.
"Pain is nothing, suffer is something."
