Would you be scared if you had to have an operation when you were less then 10 years old? I know I was. It was 20th March 2023 and I was only 9 years old when I needed to wake up early to catch the 7.45 am ferry to the mainland. I sat on the ferry eating breakfast and worrying because I needed to do lots of pre operation tests for my tonsil removal which was scheduled for the next day.
Once we arrived in the city, I went straight to the hospital. All the way there my stomach was cramping with nerves but thank goodness the tests were all ok. The nurse sent me to the waiting room for a while because she needed to prepare everything for the doctor who talked to me and my mum about the operation.
After hearing about the things I needed to do before the operation, we went to our apartment nearby. We didn't leave the hospital until 6.00 pm so I was totally exhausted. When my mum and I arrived at the apartment my cousin, my uncle and my auntie were waiting for us. It was really wonderful to see them after the long day. I found new energy and played with my cousin till 8 pm and then we had dinner. My auntie made my favourite supper spaghetti bolognese and pancakes for pudding.
We went to bed at 9.30 pm because I needed to get up at 6 am to go back to the hospital.
21st March was the operation day. I got to the hospital at 7.35 am and sat in the waiting room. It was cold and empty so I was very glad when they let me into another room which was a preparation room for children waiting for their operation. This was much more fun because there were four other children in the room already. We played till it was my turn to be operated on. I had to drink a medicine to make me fall asleep so the doctor could perform the operation. It tasted like smelly socks!
My operation finished at 3 pm and then the nurse took me back to bed in the room with the other children who had already had their operations. My mum was there waiting for me. It was so great to see her. I slept for an hour and I woke up to find my mum sitting next to me. I knew she would be there the whole time, so I slept a bit longer. Afterwards I had to stay in hospital for two more hours in case anything went wrong. I was allowed to go home at 6.30 pm.
The next day I had to return to hospital for IV therapy which took half an hour. The doctor said I had to come for this therapy for fifteen days and I was only allowed to eat cold and liquid food. I didn't mind because it meant I could eat lots of ice cream!
We had to stay in the city till 2nd April, and the day we took the ferry home I was so happy to finally be reunited with my family and friends. I knew that I would never be the same after going through such a big experience.