It’s Sunday afternoon. I’m making lists of all the things I have to do before Christmas…which is in 10 days. There’s presents still to buy and wrap. There is the Christmas dinner to plan, shop for and prepare. There’s a lot still to do…….

….and then my phone rings. I look at my cell and it says Unknown Caller. Hmmm. I pick up and it’s my surgeon. Huh? HE, is calling me personally and on a Sunday?!

“Patti, there’s been an operating room open up and you’re on the list. How does this Friday sound? If you’re available, I can perform your surgery. You’ll need to go through all the pre-op tests early this week but we can make it happen if you’re available.”

Wow, yes, oh yes. SO this Friday, December 20th I will be undergoing surgery #5! If all my Christmas wishes come true, this will hopefully be my last. PLEASE!!!!!!

I hung up the phone, stunned and elated. And then panic started to set in. Holy sh#t. I am having major surgery right before Christmas! How will I pull this off? Ok, Patti. Think. You are going to have to review your list, cross a few things off , add several new things….and then just get it done.

Now, Christmas dinner…a traditional turkey and fixin’s will not be on the menu. I won’t have the energy to prep and stuff a turkey. Hell, I won’t even be able to lift a turkey for a month….so plan B….I’ll do a ham. Ham’s are good. Yes, a spiral ham. already cooked just need to warm it up. Veggies are easy, mashed potatoes no problem and well, I will just buy dessert. If I hide the box, no one will know! Fu#k, who am I kidding, of course they’ll know. I’m going to be exhausted, bandaged and popping pain pills. Who am I trying to kid?! I will have to cancel some plans I had on the 22nd with friends because unless they want to change our get together to a pyjama party in my bedroom I won’t be able to participate. Driving is out of the question for a few weeks. Please let it not snow a lot as shoveling is out of the question and oh crap, I better get all the decorations up soon as I won’t be able to lift my arms. I better get all the laundry done, beds made up and the house organized for my family arriving on the 23rd and oh, I better make sure I have enough dog food in the house! AHHHHHHHHHHHH

My list just tripled in size. I can feel my anxiety starting to bubble up. So much to do, so little time. Hell, I feel like this every Christmas but throw in a last minute major surgery and well, it’s a bit overwhelming. That said, I can look forward to starting 2020 with surgery #5 behind me and hopefully a new year with better health. Oh, that would be sooooo nice. I couldn’t ask for anything better than to wrap up this journey and have a fresh start in the New Year.

Apparently, the other people on my surgeon’s list didn’t want to get sliced open 5 days before Christmas so I’m considering my self very fortunate. Is the timing great? No. But as I thought it would be months and months until I could get a surgery date, I am more than happy to take the slot. Christmas will be low key for me. I won’t be attending any holiday parties or drinking any rum spiked eggnog….but I will be enjoying time at home  with my daughter and new son in law, to rest and heal and relax. And really, isn’t that what the holidays are all about? It may be a different kind of holiday than the one I planned but it will definitely be a very merry one. And that’s all I want for Christmas.

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