Heading Home

Getting ready to leave the hospital

My surgeon had originally anticipated sending me home on Friday the 8th.  With pain regulation taking a bit longer than expected he decided to keep me at the hospital until Monday the 11th instead.  We were able to have family friends who lived in the area come pick us up from the hospital and drive us to the airport.  Thank you Dave and Sako!  We are so grateful for their kindness and careful driving!

I had debated whether it would be easier to drive the 3 1/2 hours home or fly.  My sister offered us her frequent flyer miles which made that a possibility.  In the end we opted for flying home.  It was a 38 minute flight. 

We had called ahead and requested wheelchair service.  When we arrive at the curb a wheelchair was quickly brought over.  Joe was in line to check us in (and it was hot) so the guy offered to take me inside.  Here begins my misery.  He just left me at the bottom of the ramp.  People were walking around me, I couldn't turn around and see where Joe was at.  The chair!  The chair was hard as a rock and complete torture.  I'm sure I was looking pretty miserable as a very kind TSA man came over.  He asked if I was waiting for someone and offered to move me out of the flow of traffic.  There was a wheelchair waiting area just around the side of the ramp.  He turned me so I could watch for Joe.  When Joe finally got us checked-in and came inside he could see the pain on my face.  I moved to a regular chair and Joe sent someone on a quest to find a better wheelchair with some give that would be a bit more comfortable.  After a bit of a wait a real wheelchair was located for me and I was wheeled to security. 

The wheel chair of torture!

When I got to security I was wheeled to wait for an agent to be available to do a pat down while my husband was stuck in a line to go through security.  Once again I could not see my husband I was just dropped off to wait.  This was all very anxiety provoking for me.  Eventually Joe made it through the line before they were able to check me.  I was so happy to see him!  As he walked over to check on me he was stopped and told he couldn't touch me until I had been through security too.  Seeing me in pain and being told he could touch me were a bit too much for him.  He was extremely upset and let them know I was in pain and I had been waiting long enough.  Someone quickly came along and took me to a tiny, hot room for my pat down.  Yes, I want my husband to come with me.  Can you raise your arms? No. Can you lean to the side and bend over?  No.  And do NOT touch my back I just had spine surgery.  It wasn't much of a pat down but they did do the little strips to test for explosive residue. 

Finally after making it through security I was pushed to our gate.  Those wheelchair pushers are crazy!  It was like a scary ride with the speeds they were going.  Fortunately he was very careful on the bumps but the corners were insane.  We waited at the gate for a bit but I had to find a place to lay down.  I was in so much pain.  We were directed to some benches not far from our gate.  With Joe's assistance, so I would roll right off the bench, I was able to lay down and rest my aching back until it was time to load. 

My selfie just after laying down to rest on the bench.

 

We were in row 5 but got bumped up to row 2.  Someone came with another very narrow wheelchair to take be up the ramp to the plane.  I was able to get in my seat with out any problems.  Sadly I found out the seats do not recline.  I popped in headphones, listened to music and prayed this would be the shortest 38 minutes of my life.  The last 15 minutes I was in intense pain.  When we finally landed I could not wait to get off.  I had trouble getting my arm rest up and started panicking.  Joe tried and then asked the neighbour across the aisle to help me.  He struggled a bit to get it up but was finally successful.  People began to stand.  I think the stewardess was waiting for my wheelchair but it was taking awhile so she started letting people off the plane.  The man across from me offered to let me go before he which I gratefully accepted.  The stewardess asked if I wanted to wait for my wheelchair but I just couldn't.  I felt so hot, panicked, and in pain so I decided to just walk off.  My kind neighbor once again got me a wheelchair while Joe picked up my walker next to the plane.  He pushed me into the air conditioned airport and turned me so I could watch for Joe.  He was a very kind man!  Joe came and took me over to a seat I could lay down at while he grabbed our luggage. Shortly thereafter we headed out and got in  my dad's car.  I reclined my seat and tried to get as comfortable as possible. 


 

 

I have never been so happy to be home!  I climbed out of the car as was met by my mom and all my kids.  I used my walker to get inside and climbed my stairs.  On the way up I saw a hanging on the wall filled with hand-prints.  My church had an activity for all the women and girls while I was in the hospital.  The theme was Sisters Hand in Hand.  One of the activities they did was to leave their hand-print and name on this wall hanging for me.  I was so touch by their love and kindness I couldn't speak.  I just cried.

It had been an exhausting trip and I immediately went to bed with ice and heat on my back.  :)  I had finally made it home.  Now it was time to heal.



I'm home!
 

It was a pretty miserable flight but after making a couple 20 minute car rides since being home I still feel flying was the better decision.