Getting there hurts

Tomorrow cannot come soon enough.
It’ll be a long day.
A good day.
A bad day.
It all depends on what view you are looking at it from.

Our daughter is having surgery. Her tonsils and adenoids will be removed. Sometime tomorrow. Later today we’ll know what time her surgery is scheduled. I certainly hope it is not too late in the morning as she is one that has to eat as soon as she gets out of bed. Telling her she cannot eat or drink, will be painful. Probably more painful for me but still painful.

She has huge tonsils. I mean HUGE. Even when she is not sick, they are big. When she is sick, they just about touch. She had strep only three times this year but I believe her sleep is disturbed nearly every night because of those huge tonsils. Her last bout with strep was in November. And even though she seemed better, she had issues. We took her in to see her pediatrician in late December. He put her on an antibiotic and scheduled an appointment with the ENT department. The ENT appointment was on January 6 and surgery was scheduled for January 28.

January 28. Tomorrow.
Stressed.
Scared.
Soon to be relieved.

She was upset when they said they wanted to remove her tonsils. What child wouldn’t be? They gave her a booklet that explained the surgery and by the time I dropped her off at school, she was calm. She has read that booklet numerous times. She probably could recite it, word for word. She knows she’ll feel better. She’ll sleep better. What scares her is the procedure. The “going under” and the big question, “will it hurt?” I will not lie but I told her, your father and I both had our tonsils removed, and we survived. I honestly don’t remember any pain. It was so long ago. I was in second grade.

I thought she had come to terms with it. The surgery. She concentrated on making a list, a long list, of grocery items that she wants to have in the house. Most of the items will have to be kept in the freezer. What kid would refuse making a list to stock a freezer? A list of popsicles and ice cream.

Last night was a rough night. Filled with sobs and a pile of wet tissues. I stayed with her and calmed her down. We talked to her about her fears. I comforted her with hugs and kisses. I told her I was going to be there for her. Before, during (in prayer) and after her surgery. She’ll be fine. I’ll be stressed but fine. The day will be long. The pain inevitable.

Tomorrow…I’m looking forward to taking her home. Caring for her in our comfortable space. Loving her through her pain. Loving her back to health.