This was Day 12 of the Chinese New Year instead of the original date, December 17 last year. So I got to enjoy Christmas
2013 and usher in the Year of the Horse before undergoing
neurosurgery, thanks to a bad
two-week bout of
flu before the previous date. The delay was also better as L was
delayed in returning from Kunming on December 16 due to unexpected snow
that closed down the airport.
So after the Chinese New
Year break, L and Daniel
accompanied me to report at Tan Tock Seng's Day Surgery Centre at 7.30 am that
Tuesday. Registration was smooth and soon I was summoned to enter the
dreaded doorway. At least they allowed family to be around at the
first stop where I changed into my op garments, which was just a
back-to-front piece of fabric with sleeves. After hopping onto the bed
and getting a warm kiss and cuddles, I was wheeled to the
holding bay. There I was unsleeved, with laid bare except for the flimsy garment as cover. No room for any dignity here. They also put in an IV line and attached wires to my chest
to measure my heartbeat. Doors slid open frequently for masked people
to move in and out. Now and then one of them came to prod and poke, or
else made me repeat my name and IC number. After an interminable wait,
I was pushed into the OT. At least three doctors hovered around some scans,
discussing in a low murmur. Dr N, my neurosurgeon was nowhere to be seen. Well, looks
like everybody was hanging around waiting like an orchestra tuning up
before the conductor showed up. Meanwhile, I was moved to the narrow operating table. After telling them that I was getting frozen, they wrapped me up in some inflatable warm cocoon. A gas mask was put over me and I thought this was it. Then I learnt that it was oxygen. Soon somebody mentioned that I should pass out, and I went out like a light.
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