I Have Failed

I can find nothing online or in real life that has helped to persuade my mother not to have her facelift on Tuesday. All the websites I've found say there's virtually no complications. Sure, the possiblity of nerve damage. But rarely. Very rarely.

I find that so hard to believe. This is a six hour surgery that requires an overnight stay in the hospital. It's bound to be more complicated than that. Most of the sites seem reputable, but they're all run by surgeons' groups or hospitals. I'm not saying they're dishonest. But they certainly have something to gain by downplaying the negatives.

I've even called the state board that supposedly certifies and/or penalizes doctors who malpractice. They have no idea how I would find out if Mom's doctor would've had a suit filed againt him. WTF? They even suggested I call his lawyer to find out that information. I'm sure that the lawyer will be eager to tell me whether his client is a lawsuit risk or not.

All I seem to be able to find are anecdotal horror stories. And Mom won't believe that. So, apart from purposefully driving her elsewhere or calling the hospital and telling them she's one of those people who die from anethesia--all of which would just piss her off at me anway--we're back to square one.

My ace in the hole--the new vague blood policy Jehovah's Witnesses have adopted--got blown out of the water already. She simply told the doctor she was a Witness and had issues with taking blood, he said, yes, he understood, he'd worked on Witnesses before. And that was that for her. Apart from the fact that I found it funny that he's worked on Witnesses (vanity, anyone?), he can't understand the new blood policy, because Witnesses don't even understand it themselves.

So, like the good daughter I am, I've packed my things and my book to read during her six hour surgery, and I'll be taking care of her the rest of the week. No matter the crap that she spewed at me when I was younger. No matter the fact that she disowned me 2 weeks before I was due to give birth to her only grandchild. No matter what a "disappointment" I may have been, being college educated, a good mother, a good person, and an EX-Jehovah's Witness. When she needs something, look who's here.

At least there'll be plenty to blog about. And at least I'll get to see Dante again. ::Sigh::