After my gastrointestinal bleeding, my hemoglobin eventually returned to normal (it was at 155 g/L on November 26, 2020, well within range), and I was ready for my dilated aortic root repair. After another telephone consultation with Dr. Wong, my surgery was scheduled for February 4, 2021.

I arrived at Royal Columbian Hospital the night before, went through all my preparations, and was the first in line next morning for the operation. I remember being wheeled at 7am to the surgery waiting area before getting an earful from the anesthesiologist in the operating room about shaving my chest. 10 years ago I received numerous ‘Brazilian Wax’ treatments each time the EKG sensors were hastily removed from my chest post-surgery, so I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. But the anesthesiologist wasn’t amused by my proactive thinking because of potential bacteria risk. We talked about nothing being mentioned regarding shaving your chest in my pre-surgery instructions while he inserted IV’s into my veins, and then, without warning, the room went black.