Today we began the official journey. At 3:30 this morning we got up to catch a flight to Minneapolis/St Paul. The travel time with a layover in Atlanta was about five and a half hours. We picked up the rental car and we were off to the house then the Hospital.
At 1:30C/2:30E we had a 2-hour appointment/class with Lesley Marrow for Diabetic Education. She went over everything from A to Z about diabetes. This was a really phenomenal and eye-opening session where we got to learn so much about every step of the care that Sue will need related to her surgical induced diabetes beginning next week. We also had the opportunity to have a hands on training on how to use the pen syringes and an in-depth understanding of what she will face as she heals and her Islet/beta cells wake up from the transplant. We also had the opportunity to ask questions about Susan’s hypoglycemia and how to better treat it when it happens and some signs of an onset attack. Sue and I also had a very thorough training on how to use her new meter that they gave her. We also practiced the injections. Sue will be on a long-acting insulin every morning and a short-acting as needed for correction of blood sugar. One thing I will say, as we left the appointment, that class left us both with a feeling of the enormity of this whole thing that up until now was still something off in the future. The reality of this surgery and new life is quite surreal!
The hustle and bustle of the travel, running around checking out the area and getting settled made the day go by so fast. The only problem with something like this is that by the time you sit down to rest and relax it’s time to go to bed… We are both exhausted!
One added note, while we were on the layover in Atlanta, our oldest daughter surprised Sue and told her she would be here for the surgery along with our other daughter. Having the whole family here has made her so happy and deeply comforted knowing that along with all the support and prayers from all her family and friends, the people closest to her will be by her side to see her through her toughest moments.
