My surgery while pregnant

I WAS already dressed in hospital gown ready for my surgery at around 9:30 in the morning of October 14th. I was then on the 16th week of my pregnancy and my OB-GYN said it was the optimum time to have the surgical procedure to remove my bilateral ovarian tumor. My husband held my hand and in a very gentle voice he said, “Don’t let your fear defeat you. Just surrender everything to the Lord and everything is going to be fine. You and our baby are going to be safe… I’ll see you later.” Then he asked our first born to kiss and wish me luck.

I felt my tears rolling in the corners of my eyes while I was pushed in stretchers towards the Operating Room. It pained me to see my family tormented for the procedure I was about to have. At that time, though my husband looked calm, I could sense his pain. My dad and brother looked so worried; while my mom’s smile could never veil her anxiety. I was ready for the procedure because I have prepared myself enough, but not to see my family in agony. I silently prayed… for God to oversee my family, for God to bless the hands of everyone in the OR, and for God to just be with me and my baby all through out.

When I was already at the Operating Room, I felt the enormous strength from Him rushing in. I knew my family and friends were praying for us. My anxiety vanished. I talked to my nurses, anesthesiologist, and OB-GYN who were then preparing me for the operation, and constantly asked them if the medicines they were injecting were safe for my baby. That surgery was the third in this lifetime– my first was when I was 6 years old due to ruptured appendicitis, and my second was due to stones in my gallbladder. It was my third, but my first to be wide awake, seeing all the apparatus and preparations before the procedure plus my first to be carrying life during the operation.

I had the spinal anesthesia (or epidural) instead of the general anesthesia because it is safer for pregnant women. The surgical procedure lasted for about 3.5 hours. My OB said she had difficulty extracting the cysts in my left ovaries because it was covered by my uterus which was already big… and my abdominal adhesion due to my previous appendectomy made the procedure all the more challenging. I was conscious in some parts, even talking to my doctors, but was asleep most of the time.

I remember hearing my obstetrician’s voice during the operation, waiting for the result of the frozen section (biopsy). The plan was to remove both of my ovaries if the cysts were malignant. I earnestly prayed for a positive result.

My husband shared his agony. He said that while he was in the ward, he was told by the nurses to go to the Operating Room because my OB wanted to talk to him. Stressed out, he looked for my dad to accompany him but could not find him,’till he saw my mom in the chapel of the hospital. Both of them went to the OR. Inside the elevator, my poor husband was already crying. They waited for 20 more minutes outside the OR. He said that was the longest 20 minutes of his life. When my OB finally went out, he only asked, “How’s Khaye and our baby?” My OB said I was safe, and that she was yet to check the baby. She also told my mom and my husband that the cysts were benign, thus she was no longer going to remove my ovaries.

Back in the OR, I heard my OB announce the positive result. I was relieved somehow. Then I felt the pain of closing the cut.  If you’d like to know how long the wound is, it’s a few centimeters above my genital and a few centimeters more above my navel. It is that long. My OB said she had the make the cut longer to have a better view of the cysts because the baby is already covering them. I told her that I could feel the pain of stitching, then I fell asleep again. I was already at the recovery room when I woke up.

When I was finally brought back to our room, my family was joyful to see me. My husband shared the happiest news: Our little darling is also safe. Then  our baby’s heart tone was checked. I heard it, it was strong. Tears started to flow from the corners of my eyes again… but that time, of joy and gratitude.

God is good and life is indeed beautiful… especially when you are carrying life.