Surgery

As I mentioned in earlier blogs, I tore/ruptured my quadriceps tendon. On Friday I went in for surgery. This was my first time under the knife, so I was a bit worried. Fortunately, it all went well.

Florence drove me to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and we arrived at the parking garage. TMH is a large hospital (relatively speaking) and grew in a rather haphazard way. As my friend Ron put it, it looks like they just put up the new buildings “wherever” and used “whatever” style that came to mind at the time. Fortunately, I ran into a nice fellow who was working there and he knew where to go-he even gave me a lift in his “golf cart.”

Once I got into the hospital I was checked in by a former student. It was kind of funny-like one of those commercials for the Visa check. She said “Dr. LaBossiere, what did you do to yourself?” Then, a few minutes later “I need to see your photo ID.” Of course, I know that they have to do that. But is it still kind of funny.

After that I went to my room, which was also the room for another Michael. He was in for a hernia repair. Naturally, I had to strip down and put on one of those gowns. Apparently, showing one’s ass to the world is a critical part of the medical process. After that, I had blood taken and an IV put in.

I was then wheeled down to the pre-op and met the nurses, anesthetist, and doctor. I learned that I’d probably not be able to run for 9-12 months. A short while later, the anesthetist did his stuff and I fell asleep. I woke up in the recovery room attached to the monitoring equipment and then I was brought back to my room.

I spent a couple hours recovering after that and talked with the PA for a couple minutes about what to do and not do; then Florence drove me home and has been taking care of me ever since. Naturally, I call her “Florence Nightingale.”