Whirlwind - Here We Go!

As in usual Jesslyn style, as much as I try to plan ahead and my need to be organized, SURPRISE!

My last blog was about some not great news and I worried that I would no longer be a match for my dad. I did further blood work, followed up with my family doctor, as well as attended the CAT scan.

Well, my right sidekick Erin (my cousin for those of you who don't know, I say right sidekick cause usually we end up a little devilish) comes with me to make the best of it. As we sit admiring what might be blood on the ceiling, watching a custodian try and replace a plastic cover on the room number, and a man snoring down the hall, all while I have a needle hanging out of my arm (see the picture below) for hours in a gown with a thong on - that was not a smart move as it is very chilly, we giggle and laugh about the most inappropriate things. I'm called into the scan and hooked up to an already used bag of dye, but I'm reassured it has all been disinfected and there is no chance of cross contamination, but I'm totally weirded out.

Shortly after (or maybe before I can't remember), I meet with the social worker, a nutritionist, and my RN. I choose to bring my brother Todd for support. My appointments go smoothly, and thank goodness my social worker has a sense of humor and tolerates both Todd and I. I am grateful he is supportive and can make light of the situation ahead although I know he is worried. I learn one more investigative test, blood work, and a urine sample should give them all the info they need. We celebrate a successful "pass" from the social worker with dinner at Frans.

Less than few weeks later, I am booked for the tests. An internal ultrasound (never fun), blood work, and a urine sample. Hopefully this will be it! My dad insists on driving me down. It's not awkward when your dad asks how it went......do I say "gooey" or that the technician may have shoved it up so high she looked at my heart? No, I'll just stay with okay. LOL. I am to see my RN again right after, so we walk across the street. Whenever this transplant takes place down at St.Mikes, I want to make sure I have at least a street view, or I beg someone to take me outside to people watch. As we wait for a man a few people ahead of us to try and take not only his bike, but his IV and a tray of coffees through the revolving door, we giggle some more, and I pray these tests clear. We meet with my RN, and , all tests show that although I have some "issues", we can go ahead with the transplant. Those words were music to my ears, and my dads, although he showed very little emotion.

In February of 2020, we were told we were now officially on the surgery list and that we should have a March/April date and my team will call me by the end of February when the OR rooms open up for scheduling. Oh boy, right smack in the middle of comp season. That's okay - I have an AMAZING team of teachers (friends) behind me and we will make it work.

March 2020, HELLO COVID - where the F did you come from? The studio is closed, everything is closed, and all non-emergency surgeries are on HOLD. I get a call from my coordinator at St. Mikes who has told me we are considered an "elective surgery". I'm sorry what? My dad did not choose to have kidney issues and need a transplant. Elective my @ss! I get it, I do. Neither my dad or I would be able to fight off covid if we were to have the surgery and contract it as our immune systems would be compromised. And with so much unknown with it, I understand the risk is just to great. But disappointment is a lot.

In May, I start check in with my team every few weeks (I'm like the irritating mosquito in their ear) , they say things are looking better, operating rooms are back up to 30% capacity). They will be in touch. The studio is still closed, and at this point I feel like this would be the best time to recover. But we have no choice but to wait. I watch my dad slowly decline over the spring, into the summer. Everything is taking a toll on him. This just sucks!

It is now August and we are into stage 3 of re-opening which means we are able open the studio back up. It has been 5.5 months since we were mandated shut. We have a ton of health and safety protocols in place and I am confident in reopening. September 13th we open up for our 20th season. A milestone sometimes I never thought I would never see.

I head into my 3rd week of classes, they are going great. Its September 29th. Enrollment is slow, but understandable with so much unknown still. I receive a phone call from St. Mikes, "hello Jesslyn, how are you? We have a surgery date of October 22, would you like it"? Am I hearing this right? YES!!!! She will be in contact with me after doing up the paperwork. I hang up and phone my mom. I'm happy, excited, and scared all at once in the middle of the men's underwear section of walmart. I have a lot of organizing to do in the next 3 weeks. I pick up Ashlyn from school and head home before going to the studio. I am in full organizational mode. Just as I'm about to reach out to my teachers (I teach 5 nights a week that I need to fill), I get another call. It's St. Mikes, oh no is my first thought! With the numbers going up for covid, was it too good to be true?

"Hell Jesslyn, Maureen again. We have an opening of October 13th". I take it, we are booked. I do not want to chance being postponed again. 2 weeks away, 1 month into starting the studio back up. I'm a planner, I need to be organized and I usually work months in advance. We have 2 weeks, here we go, wish us luck! I still need a pre-op and to meet with my surgeon in the next few days.

Next time you hear from me the surgery will have taken place and you can read our recovery. I cannot wait for my dad to feel great again and do all the things he loves to do!