The surgery/procedure is finished! Trust Hospital did well. 
It went very well. I went on Monday morning with Andrea. I don't think they had an order or schedule of patients. It was like if-we-told-you-to-come-Monday-morning then it is first come first served. So, I had to wait a couple hours. Then I was put into one of those lovely hospital gowns. Thankfully, this one was big enough I could wrap it around myself and did not have to have the back wide open. And I was really thankful for that because I had to walk down 2 floors of ramps 
to get to the "Theatre Room", which is what we would call an Operating Room. There I had to wait because the doctor came out and said, "Where have you been? I have been here all morning and now I have to do an interview. I will be back in a half hour." Um...Ok... one of the OR nurses brought me a newspaper. While I was waiting, 2 nurses finished up the last patient and then needed a nap so they came and slept on the empty stretchers while we waited for the doctor to come back. I did see another nurse spray with disinfectant the stretcher the last patient was on and then wiped it down. 
I was impressed because really it was about a half hour and the doctor came back in ready to go. The nurses woke up and walked into the OR to prepare. I noticed they wore flip flops and had their nails done. I remember working, just as a file clerk, in a hospital in Chicago and nurses were not allowed to have artificial nails, for the health of the patient. Then they called me in. They did a nice job of making me feel comfortable, but really, how comfortable can you be lying on a table with your rear end for all to see? Ugh...I heard the doctor scrubbing in. The nurse who connected me to the blood pressure machine was not wearing gloves. They found out I could speak Twi so they talked to me a little bit but I kept responding in Dagbani! They all started speaking Ga. When the doctor injected the area with numbing stuff the nurse compassionately patted my arms. I thought that was sweet. That was the only pinch I felt. It took about a half hour. He had to numb more because I could feel it a little and said so. He said the cyst had an extension and he had to really get at it to get it. I think this doctor really knew his stuff. I was impressed with the mostly pain-free-ness of it all.He finished and sutured me up. They covered me up and wheeled me 2 floors up the ramp to where I could change into my clothes. I was all numb so I could have walked and actually did when I got up there. The clerk told me I had to pay my bill. That was on the ground floor. I asked her if I have to walk down there and do it. She was like Duh, yeah. Ok, she did not say it like that :) Andrea offered to do it for me but I was actually feeling fine and kind of sort of wanted to see how much I could do. I walked down and paid and then back up. When Andrea and I were leaving I even told her I could drive! I was very surprised.I felt good all day. I took 2 Paracetamol (Tylenol) and any pain that was hinting at coming ran away. Then Tuesday, I got tired of sitting all morning so I went to take a walk. That probably was too much for me. I took 2 Paracetamol and rested. On to Wednesday, which was very boring, I did not go out at all. How boring! I can hear my mom saying, "You need to learn to be a Mary, not a Martha." (Guess who I learned that from!? MOM!)Throughout these days though, I really had no pain. Of course, when I sat down, I had to do it slowly and I have a donut ring pillow-thing, which really makes sitting wonderful.I went for a dressing change on Thursday and they said it is clean, dry and healing. YAY! This has gone way better than expected. Thanks soooo much for praying!! I just cannot believe it. So, then, since things have been going well...I was able to do other things like finish my prayer letter, write Christmas cards, shop for things I can't buy in Tamale, shop for Christmas presents, visit friends. Friday was a holiday and there was a young women's conference. My friend Baaba spoke. She is so amazing. We then took a trotro to the guest house, with a pit stop for some food, and ate and talked together.
It went very well. I went on Monday morning with Andrea. I don't think they had an order or schedule of patients. It was like if-we-told-you-to-come-Monday-morning then it is first come first served. So, I had to wait a couple hours. Then I was put into one of those lovely hospital gowns. Thankfully, this one was big enough I could wrap it around myself and did not have to have the back wide open. And I was really thankful for that because I had to walk down 2 floors of ramps to get to the "Theatre Room", which is what we would call an Operating Room. There I had to wait because the doctor came out and said, "Where have you been? I have been here all morning and now I have to do an interview. I will be back in a half hour." Um...Ok... one of the OR nurses brought me a newspaper. While I was waiting, 2 nurses finished up the last patient and then needed a nap so they came and slept on the empty stretchers while we waited for the doctor to come back. I did see another nurse spray with disinfectant the stretcher the last patient was on and then wiped it down. I was impressed because really it was about a half hour and the doctor came back in ready to go. The nurses woke up and walked into the OR to prepare. I noticed they wore flip flops and had their nails done. I remember working, just as a file clerk, in a hospital in Chicago and nurses were not allowed to have artificial nails, for the health of the patient. Then they called me in. They did a nice job of making me feel comfortable, but really, how comfortable can you be lying on a table with your rear end for all to see? Ugh...I heard the doctor scrubbing in. The nurse who connected me to the blood pressure machine was not wearing gloves. They found out I could speak Twi so they talked to me a little bit but I kept responding in Dagbani! They all started speaking Ga. When the doctor injected the area with numbing stuff the nurse compassionately patted my arms. I thought that was sweet. That was the only pinch I felt. It took about a half hour. He had to numb more because I could feel it a little and said so. He said the cyst had an extension and he had to really get at it to get it. I think this doctor really knew his stuff. I was impressed with the mostly pain-free-ness of it all.He finished and sutured me up. They covered me up and wheeled me 2 floors up the ramp to where I could change into my clothes. I was all numb so I could have walked and actually did when I got up there. The clerk told me I had to pay my bill. That was on the ground floor. I asked her if I have to walk down there and do it. She was like Duh, yeah. Ok, she did not say it like that :) Andrea offered to do it for me but I was actually feeling fine and kind of sort of wanted to see how much I could do. I walked down and paid and then back up. When Andrea and I were leaving I even told her I could drive! I was very surprised.I felt good all day. I took 2 Paracetamol (Tylenol) and any pain that was hinting at coming ran away. Then Tuesday, I got tired of sitting all morning so I went to take a walk. That probably was too much for me. I took 2 Paracetamol and rested. On to Wednesday, which was very boring, I did not go out at all. How boring! I can hear my mom saying, "You need to learn to be a Mary, not a Martha." (Guess who I learned that from!? MOM!)Throughout these days though, I really had no pain. Of course, when I sat down, I had to do it slowly and I have a donut ring pillow-thing, which really makes sitting wonderful.I went for a dressing change on Thursday and they said it is clean, dry and healing. YAY! This has gone way better than expected. Thanks soooo much for praying!! I just cannot believe it. So, then, since things have been going well...I was able to do other things like finish my prayer letter, write Christmas cards, shop for things I can't buy in Tamale, shop for Christmas presents, visit friends. Friday was a holiday and there was a young women's conference. My friend Baaba spoke. She is so amazing. We then took a trotro to the guest house, with a pit stop for some food, and ate and talked together.
This week has definitely not been slow. I have made use of the time, which I am thankful for but a part of me is like, "did I really need to spend all this time down here?" Maybe.Whatever. It does not matter. I AM FEELING GOOD. I will still bring my donut pillow with me on the plane :) Tuesday night I fly out and reach home Wednesday night Ghana time. I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!! Thanks for praying. I am sure the plane ride will be no problem in regards to my procedure.Look at all the answers to prayer! Ahhhmazing. Serious. Why do people want to live without God? He is Love. He never leaves or forsakes. He encourages. He is my treasure.