Personal Narrative: The Inevitable Outcome Of Surgery

The first words I had received from the specialist, “sorry”, sorry isn’t going to fix me, sorry, a subconscious response of whomever I’ve met. I was in a world of my own hearing the mumbles of the doctor, until an earthquake shook it, unexpected and life changing, “amputation”. I felt as though my life had reached rock bottom, could things get worse, not only was I afraid of the procedure but the judgment which I would be exposed to in public and the adjustments which will be made to my life.

Once I got in the car, my mother started one of her many lectures, “You do understand that we cannot be late for a surgery, they will not hesitate to reschedule you”, I replied as usually with a, “Yes ma’am”. I then noticed that we had already started our excursion towards the Mobile Infirmary Center at the Orthopedic Group. Upon our arrival my mother told me to go ahead and check myself in while she parked the car. As I approached the doors a feeling of anxiety started to crawl its way into my body. The doors then proceeded to swooshed open as if anticipating me. I was instantly bombarded with a cool breeze, which

It all started with a wrestling accident. As the bell rang, signifying the end of the match, my opponent ripped his arm from my now relaxed grip, freeing himself from my hold. I stood and extended my hand to help him up, but he hesitated to take it, his focus transfixed on my hand. I adjusted my gaze to what he was fixated on - my now grossly malpositioned ring finger. With my adrenaline quickly wearing off, my brain was now able to fully process the full extent of my injury, allowing the pain to reach my consciousness. I needed to visit the emergency room.

I had been impatiently waiting for braces for several years since the day I noticed that my sixth-grade teacher had difficulty understanding my

I stand awkwardly as a scrub nurse dresses me in a cap, gown, and booties in a hallway. At seventeen years old, it is a dream come true to have the opportunity to shadow an orthopedic surgeon for a day. Standing outside of the operating room, I pause to take a few deep breaths and remind myself to keep it together. I enter the room and stand behind the surgeon, wide-eyed and silently taking in the sights of the staff, the patient, and the assortment of astounding medical equipment in the room. The surgeon goes in for the first cut and opens up the patient’s right arm. In that moment, the room begins to spin slightly and a ringing overcomes my ears. Horrified, I sway over to the corner of the room and find my way to the floor. Convinced that I have completely humiliated myself, I sit there wishing for a way to disappear and escape from this embarrassment.

And finally, it was over. My braces were on, and I could not comprehend, why I felt excited to have them in the first place. My braces hurt like hell and they made me stutter and gave me a horrible lisp. I couldn’t eat a variety of the food I would normally eat and I absolutely hated it. Contradicting my mood from this morning, I dreaded going back to school because I believed I looked like a dork and sounded peculiar with my new stutter and lisp, but it was actually the opposite; most people I came across, said that braces suited me and the stutter and lisp would go away after a little bit, most probably in the next month when I got used to having braces. I peeped into my class through a window and slowly pushed open the heavy door and walked inside, hoping not many people would notice me but that fundamentally failed. Kelli and a few other friends started talking all at once, all of them wanting to see my

I protested in the car, screaming about the horror and waste of braces. Due to my protests, my parents had dropped the matter for time being; although the idea was clearly in their mind.

“See you tomorrow with my new braces,” I hollered to my friend. “Bye!” he yelled back. I grabbed my bright baby blue backpack while heading out the door, racing down the driveway and clambering into the car. “Ready?” my mom says firmly. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said back to her as we drove away. My thoughts were swirling in my head as I thought how bad braces were gonna be. We were there as fast as a cheetah because BOOM! There I was sitting in the cold leather reclining chair next to small table with tools on a tray.

I never thought I would be laying on an operating table at the age of 15. I had been dealing with knee pain for over 2 years so I finally agreed to surgery. This was my first major surgery and in order to tell this story, I have to go back to the beginning.

There was this cold, aloof air that swarmed to me in the instant as I opened a tall glass door. I breathed in with my nose and exhaled out of my mouth. This is it, it’s all going to be over in a few hours, I soothed myself. I’ve waited for this day to come for months, not exactly waited, but fought to keep myself calm for these months. Apparently, my kanye is high up in my gum, so I have to undergo a mini oral surgery to expose and bond that tooth. Through days of research, I found out the procedure; the oral surgeon will cut open the gum and put a bracket on the kanye, attach a gold chain to it another tooth. After an hour passed by, an aloof call of my name beckoned my sweaty hand to held on the door handle, and turn. The doctor was a mid-aged

I have a bit of a situation. I found out at the end of July I need abdominal surgery for an extremely large hernia. unfortunately it has taken my doctor this long to get it approved thru my insurance but they finally have and have scheduled the surgery for 10/10/2016. I just looked at the calendar and that's the week of midterms. Is there any possible way for me to take the midterm early? Here's the thing, if that is going to be an issue at all, I will reschedule because getting my degree is that important to me. Yes I need this surgery, but I didn't think I'd ever get a second chance to finish school when we had to move here. However, I did get another chance to finish my degree and when insurance was fighting to approve this surgery I thought

I like the idea of not wearing glasses. Am I a candidate for a multifocal lens?

One morning I asked my surgeon/author friend to describe how he prepared for each surgery. He went on to explain how he filled out a “menu” of the surgical instruments he would need, which varied depending on the type of surgery he was about to perform. He would put a check mark next to numerous scalpels and other items (which I wouldn’t know what to call) and then turn in his menu. When he entered the operating room, he’d find his requested instruments and accessories neatly lined up waiting for him. With those specific tools, he could perform his surgery efficiently, competently, and confidently.

that interested me the most was helping those having a hard time day to day

On February 11, 2016, I, Justice Fisk, had the opportunity to experience a day in the operating room at Northcrest hospital. Upon arrival I was not sure of what to expect, but I was hoping that I would be able to see some interesting stuff. After talking to several classmates each person had I difference experiences so, I was nervous of what was to come.