NickSurgery2008

Note: Nick is one handed, feel free to fix wording and grammar! :]

On Monday, August 11. 2008 I, Nick Burrus was admitted to the hospital for a cardiac catheterization to take place around nine to ten in the morning. Here is a wiki page at the one and only AboutUs.org about this time!

The cardiac catheterization

I went in the hospital around 6:50 am on August 11. Soon after I had x-rays taken and I was admitted to the day surgery. The nurse whom stuck with me the entire day, put a smile on my face was Susan Patterson. As my family and friend left the room while she applied numbing to my groin cream she said a prayer.

I later asked about her mission, she said she loved it. And loves working as an RN watching miracles happen. I later asked if she was always a part of this hospital before the move because of my curiosity and she was. :]. This hospital has grown from a tiny building to being one of the nations largest and most respected in childrens care.

She took me to a new room, where they did the surgery and introduced me to another RN/Nurse. This time it was a guy, Steve Frisby. She left the area while he applied the soap and removed the numbing cream from my groin. The soap was to antibacterial the skin. I felt more comfortable with a male doing the wider portion of the groin area. :]. He inserted the IV as well.

The cath went well, I fell asleep after I drunk an icky tasting orange liquid. It was for the pain. I woke up when there was roughly an hour left of the cath. The nurse Susan Patterson started talking to me asking how I'm doing, answering my questions, etc. I told her my foot was in pain the doctor relieved some pressure off of it.

Soon it was done and I was taken to Recovery where the nurse Chona Causing took watch over me for about an hour nonstop and talked to me constantly to make sure my pain and pressure feelings and body did not change or get worse.

Other People I liked

Care Tech Amy and Judith in the Explorer Starship Wing.
Nurses Rachel, Darcey (day surgery) and Cheryl Edwards.
Steve Frisby, RN
Susan Patterson, RN

Open Heart!

According to the surgeon there is a newer procedure he'd be doing which would be to repair the valve chamber which is a 50 / 50 chance of working. Since I had surgery in the past dead transplant tissue will be used and scar tissue removed.

Surgery can be from 6-12 hours, maybe longer.

According to the surgeon I have three options if the repair fails.:

Mechanical valve. The valve will be from this company.
Biological Valve.
Ross Procedure (sp?) Pulmonary switch; pulmonary valve moved to aortic valve, aortic removed and new pulmonary put in.

1-3% chance of death.
Chance of weaker heart
Chance of surgery redone.

If the mechanical valve is done, I will have to get a blood test done twice a week for the rest of my life.

Galleries

pictures
My hand all hooked up.
With Susan Patterson
Chris and my mom.*
With the day nurse Pa Choug

*Chris was released early by two weeks by Judge Loza for my surgery.

Comments

Hi Nick, Thanks for being a part of our lives and sharing your experience with us, your journey is inspirational. You are often in my thoughts and prayers. - Brandon CS Sanders 16:32, 12 August 2008 (PDT)