UCSF ROUND 2: Day 1

Today has been a long day.  We left the house at 6:30am and didn't arrive at the hospital until a little after 9:00.  It was about 10:00 by the time we got Grace settled in her "room".  We are in what they call a "bay" which is just a large area with three beds, two crammed in on one side and only one on the other.  Last week we got the nice and roomy side with one bed.  This time we got the side with two beds, one of the beds is near the sink and has very little space, the other bed is by the window and is a bit more spacious.  Grace got the bed by the window so it's not too bad.

So far today she has had an EKG, Chest X-ray, blood drawn twice and an IV placed.  Placing the IV was not fun but she got through it and everything else fine.  We still don't really know what the plan is for sure, which is why I have waited so long to post.  Here is what I know (or at lest I think I know)... She WAS going to be first case of the day tomorrow; meaning that she would go in for surgery around 7:00 am (no eating after midnight, clear liquids until 4AM).  But, then some little bird said that she got bumped to second case.  Another said she was getting bumped to Thursday.  Yet another said she was going to be third case tomorrow.  And lastly, I heard that Dr. Azakie probably wouldn't want to have Grace as the last case of the day (third case) because she has so much scar tissue and her surgery could become more complicated.  As for the actual surgery, whenever they do it, the plan is to only deal with the pacemaker and the leads.  Dr. Azakie is going to leave the leaky valve alone for now.  The thought  is that once the new pacemaker is placed and her heart rhythm is under control her pressures and the regurgitation, hopefully, will correct itself.

The current plans is to go in through her side (Thoracotomy) rather than going through the chest (Sternotomy) again because of the scar tissue.  Most likely the doctor would like to save the chest for when he needs to go in that way for a valve repair (open heart surgery).  Basically, everything is up in the air at the moment.

As for Gracie, her mood is good.  She is spending her time watching movies on the portable DVD player she got from AMerican Airlines.  We've watched Toy Story twice today.  Last week, when we were here, Grace really wanted a Hot Dog.  Nurse Sam tried so hard to get her one and I think it finally came right when we were given the OK to leave.  Nurse Sam was working again today and made sure Grace got a hot dog for lunch and dinner!  She is so sweet.  It is really great how the nurses remember Grace from her yime here three years ago and they are always so nice to her whenever she comes back.  We got visits from Nurse Helen, Nurse Megan, Judith the social worker, Nurse Stephanie who is also one of Gracie's favorites and Dr. Teitle all came by to say hi.  Gracie is really popular around here.