27 January 2022
This morning I replied to our friend Christina's email question about Joyce's next surgery, telling her, "We're hoping for sometime in February, so don't run out of prayers!" Assuming the Omicron bubble bursts by then.
And today Shamira from Dr. Tong's office called with a February surgery date.
Joyce wrote everything down and has gotten email confirmations of several of the dates involved. I was at my mother's trying to get rid of a mouse in her kitchen. So I missed the call and Joyce is still a bit confused about what's going to happen.
I've emailed Dr. Tong for the details and maybe tomorrow or the next day one of the physician assistants will call to explain exactly what the plan is.
But here's the schedule of events:
Date Time Event Feb. 3 9:30 a.m. Video appointment Feb. 8 11:30 a.m. Covid test at French Hospital Feb. 10 3 p.m. Pre-op visit at the clinic Feb. 11 [unknown] Admission to Kaiser Hospital on Geary for surgery Feb. 15 1:30 p.m. Post-op appointment The Feb. 10 visit is usually a video conference but we may have to be at the clinic to pick up the energy drink and body wipes Kaiser wants surgery patients to use before coming to the hospital.
The purpose of the Friday surgery isn't at all clear.
Joyce thought it was to close the wound. But my understanding is that a deep debridement under anesthesia is required first, during which cultures will be taken to concoct the right antibiotic cocktail to clear the wound for the Integra surgery.
A few weeks after that, if the Integra adheres, the wound would be closed with a skin graft.
It could be that Dr. Tong thinks she can debride the wound over three days and send Joyce home with some pills until any infection has been cleared. But I expect that would be with a Wound VAC.
And the wound would not yet be closed.
Anyway, Feb. 11 is the new date. And I do hope Christina has a few more prayers left in her pocket.