1972 to 1977

From 1972 to 1977, I had several "minor" procedures. I would like to clarify minor for you.. Any procedure that doesn't involve reconstruction but is still considered surgery because I am put under. I had one eye surgery, at least three sets of tubes put in my ears, and one oral surgery during that time period.

I believe the first surgery I had in this period was eye muscle surgery at Research Hospital where I had undergone most of my surgeries. And that surgery was done in either the summer of 1972 or 1973. I was a kid and I remember that I had the surgery to tighten the muscle in my left eye. Some things that I remember from that surgery: The anesthesiologist using a spray to freeze my hand so he could start an IV on me and waking up and not being sick. I also remember not having any premeds. I remember I had to stay overnight in the hospital.

In 1973 or 1974, while I was in third grade, I had my first OR experience at Children's Mercy Hospital. I had tubes put in my ears. I remember that there was no ambulatory surgery area so everyone was admitted to a room on one of the inpatient floors. I can't remember what floor I was on. But it was either Four North or Five North. I was at the hospital for just a few hours. I remember waiting to go to surgery tho. I remember going back to school the next day.

In 1975 and 1976, I had more tubes put in my ears. I had those done at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Were those ever wild experiences! I remember being sick before and after surgery. Premeds would make me so sick.

In August 1977, I had oral surgery done at Baptist Memorial Hospital. I needed to have a couple of teeth pulled because I was having braces put on my teeth that fall. The oral surgeon (OS) refused to pull my teeth in his office because of airway issues. (I had someone tell me in 1998 that the OS did not need to do that. I guess he didn't want to risk anesthesia on me in the office.) I was admitted to the hospital the day before the surgery. I remember being on a floor for people who were terminally ill. Peds was full at the time. I can remember the private room I was in. I remember the morning of surgery when the nurse gave me my preop meds. I was so sick after she gave me that shot. I vowed it would be the last time I would ever get pre medicated for surgery. (It was a long time before I was forced to have premeds for surgery after that.) I remember coming back to my room and being so sick. I was suppose to be able to go home that day after the surgery. There was no way because I was too sick to get up. I remember Pat Schudy coming by the morning after the surgery. She is the reporter who wrote the article about me. And I remember the OS would not release me because I was running a low-grade fever. The unit I was in was shutting down because of low census so I was transferred to the Peds unit. I shared a semi-private room with a little girl who had broken her hand and was in traction. She was going to have surgery the next day after I was released. My mom saw my ENT and told him that the OS would not release me because of the fever. The ENT knew that I usually ran a fever after surgery because of the effects of anesthesia. Two days after the surgery I finally got released.