Core 1

As I sat in this tiny examining room, waiting for the doctor who was widely known for doing a certain type of surgery on highly paid professionals, I didn’t know what to expect. Was he going to be big, strong, in shape? Just the typical every day doctor? It was March 6th 2007, this was the day when I took a flight to Birmingham, Alabama. The day was for my checkup, as well to go through some procedures. This was to educate me on what I should expect to happen later on. The doctor that preformed surgery on me was James Andrews. As he walked through the door my hands start to clam up. As I began to talk to him, I noticed why all these great sports players come to him. Was because of his name? He had a great personality, a bit of confidence that determines he will get the job done correctly. Throughout, that day I felt as if there was a great pressure lifted off my shoulders. I could breathe easy knowing that I would finally get my life back “baseball.” On the ride from the hospital, my father and I got acquainted with our bus driver. We then found out that he would be driving us every day. He suddenly, shouted over the roar of the bus motor. He was quite the talker. He asked, “Is this your first time in Alabama?” As well, he asked. “Is this your first time to see Mr. Andrews?” I quickly blurted out, “yes.” He said “Well you’re getting nothing but the best the best.” I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come! I was saying over and over in my head: “I just want to get this over with!” As the time was near midnight, I wasn’t allowed to eat or even drink anything, not even water. It was lights out, tomorrow is the day that my life will be changed.

It’s my second day in Birmingham. I was hoping for it to be a great day. I thought that I was coming to an end. Finally! My appointment was set for 8:30. The doctor said, “Show up one hour early in case things got moved up.” The weather was a bit chilly. Everything looked like an old black and white picture. Al pulls up right on time, opens the doors, and says “all aboard.” “Today’s the big day,” my father says to Al. As their conversation went on, I sat and looked out the window wondering if I would feel anything during the surgery. I started to get butterflies in my stomach, from thinking too much or maybe because I was starving. I could see the hospital and for some reason, just looked so much bigger than it did yesterday. Pulling up to the entrance, Al says “don’t worry you won’t feel a thing, you’re in the best of hands and good luck.” My father and I walked to the front office to check in as Al drove off waving. The woman asked us for my name and then tells us that there has been a cancellation so my time would be moved up. We both walked into the waiting room. It’s the size of a gym! Before, I get to sit down the nurse called my name “are you ready to get prepped for surgery?” she says. “Isn’t my dad allowed to come with me?” I asked, the nurse calmly said “sorry honey just you.” The whole 8th floor is known as The Tommy John sector, which I thought was pretty cool. I got put in a temporary room where I relaxed in bed.

The sight out the window was relaxing. As time passed, I sat in that room wondering where my dad was; does he know where I am? Did everyone forget about me, a split second later doctor Andrews walks in the room with two others and says “are you ready to get the wing fixed?” “Let’s go” I blurted out quickly. Getting rolled out of the room in my bed was fun because I’ve never had a rolling bed before. Not knowing where I was heading I got rolled into a room which looked like a pit stop for people in beds ready to get their bodies fixed, then a doctor came over to me and asked if my right arm was the one they were going to do surgery on. I quietly said “yes” not knowing who the man was. Soon enough, he comes back again and writes yes on my right arm and no on my left. I knew it was almost time to go in, my life would soon be changed for the better. The doctor says to me “count down from 1000” as I felt a warming sensation go through my arm. I said “1000 why a thousand” before I knew it, I was out like a light.

While I was in surgery my dad was pacing around the cafeteria. He was anxious for me to return to my room. One and a half hours later, the surgery was completed. I started to slowly feel the pain rise. As I reunited with my father, the pain was more constant. I turned my head and said to my dad, “my arms throbbing” the nurse over heard me. She then quickly went to get me a pain killer. She says “before I give you this you have to eat.” I couldn’t stand the pain any longer I took it without food. Five minutes later I threw up the pill along with the IV fluids. After leaving the hospital I soon found out that my father didn't get my prescription filled because the pharmacy was closed. Al had picked us up that cold night, soon after dropped us off outside the hotel.

The pain really started to set in, my dad says, "Are you hungry son." I exclaimed "You know it, I've been starving." Entering the subway doors an older man says to me "did you get a surgery done today." "Yes, and my arms killing me" I painfully said. The man says "my wife just got shoulder surgery; you can have one of her pills to get you through the night if you need one." My father reply's "it's alright he will be fine." The days and nights had come and gone from getting my stitches out to getting put into a protective brace I realized how fragile the human body is, in order to stay in good condition I have to stay in shape. This was just the beginning to my long journey to recovery, and helped me see another side of life.