FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2009 THE TRANSPLANT CENTER CALLED

A good number of Albertans had an early morning on Friday, June 26, 2009. Following the jarring ring of the telephone at 5:00 am, we heard the news, "the Transplant Center called...."

Lorne, Travis' dad, received the call at Travis' home in Calgary. Jarred into reality, he heard the voice say, "This is the Transplant Center calling for Travis Bingeman. Who am I speaking to?" "This is Travis' father." "May I speak to Travis?" The monent had arrived!

Bolting upstairs, he entered Travis' bedroom, only to be challenged by a startled Daisy. Getting her settled, he handed Travis the phone. The long-awaited news - the transplant was ready. Thus began an exciting, anxious, fearful, tiring, and hopeful, day.

Next step...Lorne called Terri (Travis' aunt). For months she had been anticipating, hoping, praying, that this day would come soon. With one fluid motion she was awake, grabbed the phone, out of bed, and, "Hello...." The news...at last!

Grabbing her proverbial brown bag of transplant info, she began making calls, awaking people to the news, and to action. First call..., Cathie (Travis' mom), and then, Judy (Cathie's friend), who would assist Cathie in packing and getting to Travis' for the flight to Edmonton. From a dead sleep, to having everything packed and in place, is quite a feat. They were informed that they had half an hour to get to Travis' in time for the ambulance. Judy put the "pedal to the metal" and they made it. Cathie had her moments - "maybe we'll end up being donors!" Dawn (Travis' cousin) would pick up Bertha (Travis' grandma) and proceed to the hospital.

The ambulance arrived for Travis and Cathie for the ride to the airport, and the 50 minute flight to Edmonton. Then, another ambulance to the U of A Hospital.

With Travis and his mom gone, Lorne was left to "pick up the pieces" - packing Travis' and his things for Edmonton, preparing Daisy for her stay in Ponoka, and making the 3 hour trip north.

After the initial shock over what was about to transpire today, Cathie took each fearful step in stride as they made their way to the U of A Hospital. She did it "remarkably well". (Travis' words).

With the necessary documentation completed, the waiting ended at 1:20 pm. The staff arrived to transport Travis through the door into the operating room. What a moment! It was a separation, when, in the parting, monumental changes would happen. The fear, the anxiety, the hope was palpable. With hearts in our throats, we could now only wait. He disappeared behind those doors...to hope.

It was a long wait. Finally, at 9:00 pm the surgeon arrived to offer the news - the surgery went "very well". RELIEF. "You can see him in an hour". It was a long hour. And, finally, with trepidation, after the necessary rituals of washing hands and gowning up, each of us approached his bed.

It's an intimidating sight, to see all those machines, those tubes, those wires, and the subdued atmosphere of "intensive care". But, he was asleep, resting "comfortably". What a relief!

It had been a long day. We were "anxiously thankful", and left to get some rest...and, hopefully, some sleep. After all, the clock said that it was now Saturday.

This post was entered by Uncle Mark.