Surgery Prep

Looking back, I'm glad I didn't know what the surgical procedure would be like. I remember
9:00pm came and went. Dr. Bass, my obstetrician had yet to arrive to the hospital. Nervousness set in as I imagined Dr. Bass would be flustered, rushing into the room, making a hasty mistake or two that would leave me permanently paralyzed.

Although Dr. Bass was late, his nurses were on time. Tilda, a Haitian American nurse in her late thirties introduced herself, "I should I have called in sick today. I do not want to be here." I smiled weakly and shot a glance of disbelief in my husband's direction. "Ok everyone clear out," she ordered. My mother, father, and husband stood up and watched my eyes for approval. I tried to make them say, "STAY, I'm scared!" I thought it had worked when my husband started in my direction. Instead he swooped in and popped a small kiss onto my forehead. "Good luck, Babe. I'm going to go get dressed."

I watched him walk out of the room, smiling, clutching plastic green hospital couture, and cloth booties.