Embolization #2... and more!

My subject title wasn't very creative... "Embolization #2 and More!"?. Oh well.
Anyway, let's get down to business:
I checked into Swedish Medical Center early, early morning on Monday, November 28th. Unlike the last embolization, this time I met Bill and Vicki from News 4 in the lobby first. Then we all headed up to the ambulatory unit where I would change into a rather flattering hospital gown, and get my lovely IV. As I was laying beneath a layer of warm hospital blankets, Linda, a photographer from the Rocky Mountain News joined the party. I must say, it was pretty odd this time around. As the nurse stuck needles into my veins (the IV only took two tries this time, which was cool), every second was being documented on tape and photo.
After an hour or so, they wheeled me down to the "Interventional Radiology Operation Room", and the camera was still rolling while I quickly succumbed to the anesthesia. Apparently they filmed some of the procedure itself! I'm interested in watching that; I'll get to witness all the fun I missed out on whilst asleep! That may have sounded slightly sarcastic, but I truly am interested in seeing all of that.
I learnt something semi-creepy right after the procedure: they take out the breathing tube AS you're waking up! Most people can't remember having it taken out, but you are indeed mildly conscious when they do it. Anyway, I woke up with a really sore throat like last time, and they took me into the post-op recovery room. They must have given me a stronger dose of anesthesia or something because all I did was sleep from post-op room to the CCU room. The great thing was, I woke up only an hour before I could eat and move again! Last time I was fully awake the whole 6 hours. So that was nice. As always, I had wonderful nurses that took care of me, and my doctors (Dr. Frei and Dr. Bellum) did a fantastic job. The arterial line in the artery in my wrist was as uncomfortable as ever, but it's really worth it when the embolization went very well. After a not-so-restful night, my nurse brought in a copy of the Rocky Mountain News with a story about the embolization that had just happened the day before!! Geez, news happens fast. It was pretty cool though. I was discharged at 1:00 in the afternoon and returned to my humble abode for a nice nap.
Okay, that ends the embolization #2 chapter, and now we begin the brief "more" chapter:
The CDs have been going like crazy, it's absolutely INCREDIBLE! I've been getting wonderful letters and e-mails from all sorts of people and it's just... amazing, truly. If you don't have any faith in humanity, then just look at the immense kindness and generousity so many people have been expressing through all of this. People still care, and people still have hearts, very big hearts actually. So before I leave, I would like to say THANK YOU! All of this media stuff, and the CDs, everything, it all seems quite surreal, but... thank you.
Now please, please have yourself a beautiful day.

Erienne Romaine