Best day thus far!!!

Today I was scheduled to be in the CVICU and when I arrived to clinical early my instructor told me that a patient was about ready to have a CABG procedure and asked if I wanted to go. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!!! I was jumping up and down like a three year old in a candy store. I went downstairs to the OR and the scrub nurse showed me what to dress in and then had me scrub into the surgery. I thought I was just going to watch!!! So there I stood next to a cardiothoracic surgeon for a 6 hour triple bypass!!! I watched them cut the sternum in half, harvest a vein from his leg (it was the width of a earthworm!) and then he exposed the pericardium. When he opened the pericardium and exposed the heart it took my breath away! No picture can ever give you the concept of the beautiful colors that a heart has. Then the surgeon told me to reach my hand into his chest and HOLD HIS HEART! I could have died right then and there and feel as though I was already in heaven. I am still in awe and am so very thankful that I was able to witness this today. This was an awesome day!!!!