The big day

Early start for us - more blood tests, after a night of IV fluids and antibiotics and immunosuppressants and so on. Arif, Len and Johanna's parents were there first thing for her, as she was taken down for surgery really early, about 8.30. I don't recall much, but I absolutely fell to pieces as she was waving on the bed being wheeled away. It was probably the first time it really struck me properly what was going on and what she was doing for me.

I hadn't had much sleep overnight, so I kinda dozed all morning while G sat waiting for more info... think they took me down about midday in the end. Waited in the pre-op bit for an hour I think, long enough for Johanna's surgeon to come in and tell me her op had gone fine and she was just finishing off, which was a relief to hear.

I remember being wheeled into the anaesthetic room and thinking how bloody cold it was, and asking why it's called an Operating Theatre, cos they're not acting, at which point they knocked me out (Hazel says it wasn't cos of my bad jokes).

No memory at all of recovery, the next thing I remember is G making me take my night medication back in the ward quite late at night and being very dopey indeed. They told me it all went well. Lots of tubes and lots of beeping. Must have been very noisy for the other people on the ward that night, the IV machines kept waking me up for sure.

Was really reassuring to see Johanna in the next bed and quickly wave at each other before passing out again. :)