Day 5 Post Op - Free at last and on to OLIVE GARDEN

Tim - Lena - Jimbo

Dr. Tamasdin - Lena

Olive Garden.  We both did partake.

13 May 2019 - Day 5 Post Op - 

• Packed by 9:00am
• Hello and Good bye Jimbo
• A wet trip to the animal shelter
• Olive Garden for dinner
• Mandy

Jennifer's version of events:

Packed by 9:00am - Lena was up and READY to GO.  She had a light breakfast (blueberries) and was changed and packed.  Dr. Hsu's Physician's Assistant, Tim was due earlier in the day and we knew the plan was to discharge her!

Hello and Good bye Jimbo - We had been told by another MALS surgery patient to watch out for Jimbo the nurse...and we hadn't seen him yet.... BUT he walked in on this day and was he great!  He caught us up on her meds, had great suggestions, and even had some fun Marvel comic/DC Superhero conversation.  He had some great suggestions for great places to eat (Pepe's Pizza and Donut Crazy in Shelton)...neither of which we were going to be able to check out BUT the other family that had asked about him had visited those places on his suggestion- and they wanted to report YUM.  Jimbo started a bag of fluids for Lena...and then Tim walked in just a little bit later.

Tim.  Um, I'm gonna admit that I have a bit-of-a mom crush!  As if the scruffy "I just got out of surgery" chin or New Zealand accent wasn't enough  - he genuinely just CARES and offers all the help and info he can for the surgery patients.   He had already called in all of Milena's meds, approved her to be discharged and with Jimbo's help we were outta there so quick.  

I also have to mention Dr. Tamasdin.  I think I spoke of her on our "Pre Op" appointment blog.  She has such a lovely manner and made us both feel so comfortable about Lena's pain management and options.  

We drove back to the Ronald McDonald House unpacked, and headed out for an adventure.

A wet trip to the animal shelter - Sooooo before the surgery I had done some "animal shelter" searching.  Lena is missing her dog "Leo" and we also miss our kitties too.  I found one closeby...but I also found a CAT CAFE.  OH man, I wanted to visit it so so badly.  But it wasn't free, and you had to make a resevation, and (other excuses...)  But it was called the "Mew Haven Cat Cafe" in New Haven, CT.  Haha!  We just opted to hit the regular animal shelter.  It was um, run by police and NOT what I expected but we did get to see some puppy dog eyes.  So many pit bulls.  It was kind of sad and smelly (and a wet walk in because it was pouring outside) but worth the stop. No cats though.

Olive Garden for dinner - then we went to (one of) Lena's favorite restaurant at her request: Olive Garden.  Salad, Breadsticks, she got Shrimp Spaghetti with Marinara, and I got Chicken Scampi.  We ATE and ate.  It felt almost "normal".  We made it back to the RMH for the night (gladly because it was STILL raining.)  Lena did ok, so far she has been able to manage her pain pretty well.  She still couldn't sleep on one side.  Nausea from time to time but walking so well and so far so good!

Mandy - After we rested for a bit we went down before the kitchen at the RMH closed.  We ran into a mom, having a snack with her daughter.  They were getting to ready to leave the next day...and they were from another part of CT.  Mandy is 19, has suffered from Epilepsy since 6 years of age...and had just completed her 4th surgery THIS year to have a pacemaker device put in her head to predict and monitor her siezures.  It was informative, inspirational, and humbling to listen to her story.  We enjoyed a long, delightful conversation.

And then it was up to our room for a wonderful night of sleep withOUT any screaming banshees or interruptions.  Bliss.