days 1 - 5

So we arrived in Curitiba safe and sound. The first night was hard for me. I felt completely overwhelmed and although Michelle (Kevin's wife) was there to greet me when we got to the hotel, it felt really lonely. We were tired but I had this incredible urge to move and go places.. but then I broke down and cried for a bit before taking a much needed rest. I slept on the couch too which was weird. I just wasn't feeling myself.

Afterwards, Dr. M arrived at the hotel and then I felt much better.. much calmer and a lot more confident that I was where I was supposed to be.. in life... not just the hotel.

The flight just messed me up!

Alecia and I grabbed a bite at the little restaurant in the hotel earlier that night. It felt so foreign.. our plates were weighed and it was the tail end of their lunch buffet so things weren't the best. It may also have been our taste buds.

When Dr. M showed up I asked about places to eat. He said most places close up on Sunday nights but that he would show us a place nearby called Leili's. But as we got to the lobby, we were greeted by Kevin and Michelle and Nicole and Karen and Evelyn. They were having an early day the next day so we all agreed to eat at the place right in the hotel. I am glad I did, I had the best filet mignon with rice and mushroom gravy!!! It was superb! And we had watermelon juice as well!

So that night we just went back to the hotel room and relaxed and planned out the next day. My appointment with Dr. M was at 10, so Durval met us at the hotel lobby for 9:45. We had enough time to grab our free breakfast and we were whisked off to Dr. M's office.

His office was nice! Sharp! Very high end. What you would expect from a private surgeon but not what you'd see at the dr's offices in Canada!


We sat down, talked about the surgery and then he gave me a quick exam in the little exam room connected to his office.

He explained everything and then we exchanged money. I was thankful to be able to save some cash by using visa for some of the fees!

Then from there, Durval escorted us out.. he has been so sweet but not overbearing at all!

We decided we wanted to see some of the shops so he called Ana for us and we went to the leather store and the stone store before Ana dropped us off for a few hours on Flower street.

We loved the leather and stone stores. So inexpensive!!!

We went into a costume/party supply store and I found a few treats to bring home. The owner was nice but his english was minimal but he managed to tell us to come back soon.

From there we were on the hunt for a lunch place and although the shops were plentiful, the places to eat were minimal so we ended up at an Arabian restaurant. We were so close to leaving there and this guy comes up and convinces us to give it a try. It was ok though because it was better than him escorting us to the basement to another restaurant I really didn't need to see ;)

So we finished browsing some touristy places and then went back to the spot that Ana had agreed to meet us at to wait. We didn't have a watch so we had to keep checking in the gift shops to see the time.

Ana took us back to the hospital where we waited for Kevin, Nicole and their families and Gerald of course.. Most of them had been on the rail tour that day and we arranged to meet them for my last supper.. Brazillian seafood.

Time goes by so strangely here. It gets dark so early and time goes by so slow!!! Or at least thats the way it has seemed so far.

I had to quit eating at 10pm and it was already after 8 so I was getting anxious.

SO we had fun at the restaurant although I have to say that I make better seafood!!! It was both service and buffet so that was fun.

So afterwards I went back to the hotel and tried to use the bank machines to take out money but the bank card wouldn't work. Luckilly Karen offered to spot me $60 Reais.

So that was it for me pre-op. The next morning, we were picked up and taken to the hospital.

We were shown to my room and ALecia and I had really nothing to do but sleep... so we did and then suddenly someone showed up, pointed to the gown, I threw it on and away I went to surgery.

The ride to surgery was odd.. noisy, bumpy... When we got into the pre-op room, Dr. M's Son (surgical assistant) was there to greet me. they explained the process of the epidural and the anaesthetic and as soon as they got the IV in, I was being sat up and the IV was being inserted.

So the next thing I remember them putting oxygen on me and I was out.. then suddenly I was waking up vomiting something or other and yelling Paaaaaaaaaaaain!

They recognized the word for pain and responded every time :P

So after a little while in recovery, they had me back in my room unwrapping my legs and oh man I felt like craaaaaaaaaaaap.

It has been 3 days since surgery and each 24 hour period I felt 10000% better and today for the first time I got to eat liquids which made me happy!!!


I think that brings me up to date.. and now I will sit back and enjoy a cup of tea!