A Very Special Journey – Part Two

Being transgender is not just a medical transition. … [It’s about] discovering who you are, living your life authentically, loving yourself, and spreading that love towards other people and accepting one another.

Jazz Jennings

Thank you so much to everyone that got in touch after last weeks post, it’s a story that clearly had a lot of resonance with you as it did me! Her’s a quote from one of the messages I had… “Omg, I’ve smiled, laughed and cried at such a wonderful, inspiring story, please pass on my profound admiration to your friend, what a brave lady!”

I will and she is, here’s part two;

Around 11:30 am I was led up one floor and placed in another small examination room. Ten minutes later the Anaesthesiologist came to have a chat. She first asked me to confirm my name and date of birth, then described how I would have to be sitting in an upright position with my arms and chest hunched over (think about the kiss your ass goodbye position indicated on airplane emergency procedures card!) she then told me I would be given a needle in my spine, after which my legs would start to feel warm then numb. An oxygen tube would be placed in my nose and then I’d be given the actual anaesthetic. She then indicated that the doctor would be along shortly and left.

About 10 minutes later the doctor came to me for a little chat. He was a very handsome and gentle man who asked for, the now expected, confirmation of my name and date of birth. He then took a look at what he was going to be working with and indicated if there wasn’t enough skin, they would take a graft from the inside of my thigh. I am glad he clarified where the potential skin graft would come from, somebody told me that they may take a graft from my ass cheek and I kept thinking anybody having sex with me would be literally getting a piece of ass! He then said a nurse would be along shortly to take me upstairs to the operating room.

A short time later the nurse arrived, he had beautifully inked (tattooed) sleeves and strange eyebrows (remember… I was feeling blissful). Again, I was asked to confirm my identity, then he described how the OR team would be set up for my surgery. I have to say the experience of chatting with a team of medical professionals in a private clinic was unlike anything I have experienced before. I felt welcomed and cared for in on a whole new level. He then asked if I was ready and I told him, with a smile, I had been ready my entire life. We then walked to the elevator and went up to the third floor where I was presented to the OR team, all eight of them! Once more I was asked to confirm who I was then the needle was inserted in my back, I was made comfortable as the feeling in my legs became warm, then numb. I was aware but couldn’t feel my legs being put into the gynaecological position. I asked what time, it was 12:30pm Eastern Standard Time. The doctor then came in and I was off to a beautiful, warm, tropical beach watching a sunrise in my mind, Singapore Sling, cooling by hands as I took a long, slow sip.

One hour and ten minutes later I awoke as the team gently began removing all the monitoring devices and I thanked everyone as I left the OR and was wheeled to the recovery room, where I stayed for another hour. There was no pain, no sensations at all. I felt comfortable and cozy with warm snuggly blankets wrapped around my entire body.

Around 2:45 I was out of recovery and wheeled back to my room. I was then lifted on to my bed by the nurses and then my beautiful BFF was permitted to join me. I thanked her for sharing this journey with me and for bringing me home.

During the afternoon nurses checked in on me, they used an ice bag on my legs to ensure the feeling was returning. There has been very little pain, I did feel pressure on my lower abdomen, a little like holding your pee on a long road trip. I smiled as I looked forward to breakfast tomorrow morning at 7:30 I hadn’t eaten since Sunday afternoon. As I drifted off to sleep, a wonderful glorious sleep, I am thinking, I made it! I made it home to the person I was always meant to be…

I’m sure you will all agree, it’s a momentous end to a fascinating story! I don’t want to say… The End… I don’t want to put any undue pressure on my friend but… I don’t know about you but… I’m dying to know what comes next!

What’s on This Week?