Same Day Surgery at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon

Today I went to SSM Health Cardinal Glenn and Children's Hospital for

surgery

. When we got there, we went straight to the visitor registration desk. Registration only took a minute. My mom and dad each received a

surgery

sticker showing where we were. The lady was very nice and she sent us to the surgery registration area on the second floor of the hospital. Mom typed my name into the computer at the desk and we waited for my name to be called while we waited. I watched one of my favorite shows on TV when my name was called we went to the registry office and filled out the paperwork.

Mom gave him her cell phone number so they could text her during my surgery, which made Mom happy. She was happy to be informed how things were going and when it would be over. When I finished, I received a bracelet with my name and bubbles on it and my mom, dad and I received bracelets like mine. When it was my turn, I walked into the exam room, got to see how tall I was, and stood on a scale to see how tall. I weighed, they also used a really cool thermometer to take my temperature, the nurses asked some questions and reminded me that the doctors and nurses would ask the

same

questions later, they do this to be super sure after we made sure I was safe enough

health

y for the surgery they did. my hospital pajamas, the nurses gave me a red Cardinal Glennen backpack to hold my things.

I met a nice lady from the child life team, she explained to me what to expect and even made it fun when my nurse came in, she used a stethoscope to listen to my heart and lungs I think she heard my tummy girl because I hadn't eaten all day They used a blood pressure monitor to hug my arm and put a band-aid on my finger the band-aid lit up red and I checked how well I was breathing, it didn't hurt at all. I was able to watch TV while the nurse talked to my mom and dad.

We also met the anesthesiologist. I like to call her a sleep doctor because she helps children sleep during surgery. She listened to my heart and my lungs too and she promised there would be no shots or jabs. Instead she uses Magic Air which I breathed into my mask. The sleep doctor showed me how to use the mask. She said Magic Air flows into a balloon bag as I blow. I raise the balloon. I will feel light and relaxed as I fall asleep. She let me choose what she wanted my Magic Air to smell like. I chose gum.

I met with another doctor in the pre-op room. This was one of the doctors that would help with my surgery, he talked to me and my parents and then drew me with a blue marker. The doctor said when I walk into my surgery room everyone will be wearing purple pajamas, hats and silly masks so my room will stay really clean when the doctors were ready for me mom and dad gave me kisses and hugs mom said they would see me when woke up the surgery team came to pick me up and I went for a walk in my bed I never saw a bed with wheels before my doll I also liked the ride on my trip.

I looked up and saw photos on the ceiling. My favorite was Lucy the flying dog, but I also saw hot air balloons, cats, and fish. When I got to my special surgery room, they had a movie there. There was a new bed for me in this room and the nurses helped me up. I was a little cold, so they gave me a warm blanket. I felt very good and they comforted me. When I got into my new bed, the nurses put a seat belt on me. Just like I use it in the car, the sleep doctor put three puppy stickers on my chest.

These stickers tell doctors how my heart beats. They were a little cold and tickled, but they didn't hurt. I could see my heartbeat in the video. They hugged my arm with the blood pressure cuff and put a bright light around my thumb, then I was ready for my Magic Air mask, the sleep doctor held the mask to my face and reminded me to breathe deeply as if I was blowing bubbles that I could see. my balloon also burst my bubblegum air smelled really good and before I knew it I was asleep in my sleep my parents went to the waiting room my mom talked to the lady at the desk her name is conci and her job is to know where my mom is and dad are there and when the doctor is ready to talk to them when the doctor was done with my surgery the janitor took my parents to the consulting room this is where the doctor talked to my mom and dad about my surgery when they were done talking with my mom and dad waited a little longer my parents received a text informing them that I was in recovery when I woke up I was in the recovery room and my surgery was finished a nurse brought my mom and dad to stay with me in the waking up I was still feeling sleepy and a little weird I still had my stickers on my chest and the red magic light on my thumb I also still felt the blood pressure cuff around my arm and gave my arm a few more hugs there was tape adhesive and a pillow in my hand also the nurse told me that that was an IV and that the IV is a straw in my hand that gives my body water drinks and medicines, it didn't hurt and I could still remove my hand .

He told me the tape would be removed before I went home. I was thirsty and my nurse gave me a drink of apple juice. Finally something to drink. It was the best apple juice I have ever had. After resting a little more, I ate a popsicle. My nurse listened. my heart took my temperature and checked my surgery bandage she talked to my mom and dad about how to take care of me after my surgery she told me that when I get home my job will be to relax watch movies and play quiet games my The nurse took me away the tape and the IV came out.

She didn't hurt me at all. It was time to go, so we gathered my thanks and I was able to go for a wheelchair ride. On the way out, we passed by the hospital pharmacy. and picked up my medication so I could feel better. My nurse walked us to the car. she made sure it was buttoned up and secure. She waved goodbye as we walked away. I was worried that my surgery would hurt or be scary, but it was. It's not so bad that it was even fun to meet nice doctors, go for bed walks and eat popsicles, thank you Cardinal Glennon.