PETER’S SURGERY

On Monday evening, Nov. 5 2007 we were enthusiastically greeted by Didi, Ron and Martin at Villa Plenitude. We settled into our room, which had comfortable twin beds and a private bathroom with a wonderful large shower. The next morning Ron drove us 15 minutes to CIMA Hospital, which is lovely, clean and modern. The place runs like clockwork and we were impressed by how efficient and knowledgeable the staff is. Ron helped to get Peter checked in and we both stayed with him until he was taken to the Operating Room at 8:00, right on time for his complete face lift – upper and lower eyelids, upper and lower face and neck. (He didn’t have a forehead lift). Later that afternoon I returned to be with him when he was released from Recovery to his private room.

Peter did very well although his surgery took an hour longer than the expected 5 hours because he was “a bleeder.” This has no impact on the quality of the surgery, it just makes more work for Dr. Lev because he has to suction the blood and cauterize the vessels. At 4:40 p.m. he was released from Recovery to his private room. His entire head was wrapped in cotton and secured with an ace bandage. He complained of pain in his ears and that he was feeling “tense.” The ear pain was due to the incisions all around the ears and the bandages pressing on the wounds. The anxiety (“feeling tense”) was probably due to “coming down” from the anesthesia. A physical therapist gave him an hour-long foot massage and the hospital’s P.R. department delivered flowers! Didi and I stayed with him until 6:15 p.m. and during that time Didi fed him ice chips and put iced compresses on his eyes which swollen and purple with bruising. I told him he looked like a purple masked raccoon!

Peter’s private room was large, had nice furnishings and a long couch with bolster pillows, which can be removed for sleepover guests. Turns out that all of the rooms are private and there are some suites. His private duty nurse arrived at 6:00 p.m.. I teased him that he was going to be spending the night with another woman!

Didi and I returned to Villa Plenitude, had dinner with another patient and enjoyed Ron and Martin’s company for awhile. I was able to rest easy knowing Peter was in good hands.

The following day Peter returned to Villa Plenitude where almost daily visits from Dr. Lev and Jennifer, the medal assistant at VP, and the care of the entire VP staff certainly contributed to his most amazing recovery. His bruises went away very quickly. There were no problems caused by him being “a bleeder.” Approximately five weeks after surgery he was still a bit swollen in the neck, ears, eyes, cheeks and his incisions were tender to the touch. But he looked great!

Now, 6 months after surgery, there is a tiny bit of numbness remaining but he looks absolutely AMAZING! I got my handsome husband back!