1-Year Anniversary of Craniotomy

It was a year ago today I had my craniotomy. The year seems like it's passed by so quickly, but also seems like an eternity ago as well. Here's my schedule for the day:

Surgery Date: August 4, 2011
Check-in Time: 4:45 AM
Surgery Start Time: 7:30 AM
Surgery End Time: 5-7 hours
Expected Discharge Date: August 7, 2011

The last thing I recall before the surgery was being asked by one of the nurses whether I wanted my entire head shaved or not. I remember answering yes, and having both the nurse and my sister laughing stating that it was the correct choice. My next recollection was wondering when the operation was going to start while reaching to scratch an itch on my head. To my great surprise, instead of feeling my hair, I felt the turban wrap instead and thought "???" until I though, "Ohhhhh..."

One of my ICU nurses

For the few hours after waking up from the surgery, I felt like a million bucks.  I couldn't stop talking and my family and nurses kept having to remind me to take it easy and get some rest. I was full of energy and ready to take on the world, that is until the meds wore off. Things are so hazy...like a dream. Two things I do distinctly remember were the non-stop hiccups I had and the catheter.