Pre-Op with Bunky

Today was my first day at the hospital - yep - it's official - I'm donating my marrow.

The tests took 7 hours. I got an EKG, an MRI, a chest X-ray, gave 10 vials of blood, a urine sample and a sticker saying "I'm a Princess - treat me like one."

I wasn't nervous at all but the hospital environment was grim. It smelled and the monitors were so morbid to look at. I got my period just before the urine sample so I now get to go back on MOnday and give a new sample. Good times.

I spent most of the day in a room with an a criminal who was dressed in orange and had shackles (is that the right word?) and was handcuffed. He was there to receive marrow. An officer with two guns (one as tall as I) was with us at all times.

The prisoner introduced himself to me.

"Hi, I'm Bunky"

"Sorry?"

"Bunky"

"You're hungry?"

Cop says "No. His name is Bunky"

Silence.

Me - "Okay"

So, Bunky, the cop and I hung out for 7 hours on and off. i've never seen neon orange and I went to UVA where orange is one of our colors. It was like Day Glo Orange.

I"m off to eat something now - and to not think about mortality (hard not to do after spending a day in the hospital in all sorts of testing sites).

n