S • U • R • G • E • R • Y

Long story short, yesterday Mike had same day surgery at Intermountain Medical Center to have a cyst removed by a plastic surgeon. It started out the size of a b-b and got seriously infected and grew to the size of an olive in three days. He was on oral antibiotics for 10 days and also iv antibiotics for 6 days. As the cyst grew too big for his dermatologist to remove it, he was referred to the plastic surgeon (who was awesome!) and here we are on surgery day.

We had to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. for the doctor’s “first surgery of the day”. Which what they don’t tell you is that means 8:30 a.m. Finally at 8:15 a.m. we part ways and I head to the Same Day Surgery Waiting Room. It all seems so strange and not real. You are sitting in this room where everyone camps out on their own chair, with their personal belongings taking up the chairs on either side of them, making sure no one sits too close to them or tries to talk to them. As we sit and wait we wonder what kind of surgery the person everyone is waiting for is having. I think we should all be required to stand up and tell who we are and what surgery our loved one is having. Instead, we all pretend to read our magazines or books and all stop every time someone’s name is called and try and eavesdrop as the surgeon is talking to them.

There is quite the variety of people in the waiting room. You have your cute very old man that looks worried sick. You have your old man who makes sure that no one sits or talks to him by sitting in the hallway. You have your middle-aged man who is desperately trying to find someone he can blab on and on to, but no takers. You have your way overdressed and over made up 50+ woman dressed in all patterns of black and white. You have your man with two ears pierced that reeked so badly of smoke that I had to get up and move away from him. And finally, you have your “Dude”. I say Dude because he was a dude. A genuine California lookin surfer dude. If you need a mental image, picture Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Yes. I saw that movie. I believe it was a right of passage for every teenager.

Although there was a potpourri of interesting people in the waiting room, he definitely stood out and seemed to get the most looks. As we are all sitting there in silence contemplating about our loved ones, the Dude says rather loudly so all can hear, “Excuse me, does anyone know how to spell surgery?” Several people facing him spell “s•u•r•g•e•r•y” for him . Dude replies, “Are you sure it’s not "s•u•r•e•g•r•y?"

Now, we can appreciate that surgery is a difficult word to spell. Especially when you arrive at the tallest building at the hospital that reads in two foot letters, “SAME DAY SURGERY”. There are signs everywhere in the building that say “Same Day Surgery” and countless signs and pamphlets with just the word “surgery”. I guess when you spend your time smoking pot instead of attending Mr. Hand’s class, such words escape your knowledge.

As a post script, Mike is doing swell. Has about ½" incision and some wicked bright blue stitches. Just waiting on the results of the biopsy. We really appreciate everyone's concern and support.