Can you believe my mom and I will be home in 48 hours?! I bet you’re jumping up and down as you read this!  I mean, our coming home is much bigger than Obama’s little soiree in Washington next week, don’t you think? 

Today was a good day.  As usual, my mom woke up really early, got some packing done and did several errands before I even got out of bed.  After I woke up, it was time for more packing, so we worked on that.  I have pretty much mailed back all my clothes except for this week’s outfits.  and the apartment is quite bare, as you may notice from some of the photos.

David was able to join Vera and her husband, Dan, and their baby Stella, for dinner.  At first we all walked down to “Paddy Coyne’s” (the Irish pub where Carlo lives), but they stopped us at the door and said “no minors in the restaurant”….what?  like 2 and a half month Stella is going to grab a beer when we’re not looking.  Oh well, I guess policy is policy, but you’d think there would be some leeway.  Those girls practically pushed us out the doors.  That was too bad, but we still enjoyed our dinner about a block away at another neighborhood restaurant.  It was so nice to see Vera and meet Dan and little Stella.  She is an adorable baby, as you can see from the photos below.

My mom and I rested and talked with everyone for a while once we got home.  We watched some “Cosby Shows”, and then this show came on about women having babies when they didn’t even know they were pregnant!  Once you heard their stories, you could understand why they didn’t think they were pregnant.  Before, I always thought, “How is it possible that you don’t know you’re pregnant?!!!!”, but it is folks….it’s possible!

I forgot to tell you that on our walk to the restaurant, we got to a point on the walk where I panicked for a second.  I thought “I haven’t ducked yet and that tree is right around here….uh-oh, when I look up, there it’ll be and I”ll run right into it”, but I looked just behind me and the tree has been cut.  I repeat, THE TREE HAS BEEN CUT, and no, I didn’t do it.  So, no more ducking, no more worries, it’s all smooth sailing now when strolling down Minor Avenue N.  I was pretty excited about that.  And, surprise, surprise, I got a picture of it!!!! 

Tomorrow is my last day at the clinic (or technically, today since it’s 1 AM Wednesday).  I have a blood draw at 9 AM, and later I have my final clinic…at 3:30, I believe.  I have to doublecheck.  There were some times when I doubted this day would come, but mostly I felt good out here, and we were able to find a lot of outdoor activities or indoor activities with limited numbers of people, and we learned our way around this city and part of the Pacific Northwest.  I’ll miss seeing all the evergreens when we leave!

It’s so different, remembering how I felt when we first arrived.  There had been a looooot of crying all day that day, and I was not sure of what to expect with the i131, the isolation, the radiation, the transplant.  I was sad there were so many evergreens because I thought that meant they would have an ugly fall.  Now here I am saying I’ll miss those same trees, and the medical treatment I had here does feel a bit like an aside from all the other things we’ve done.  I really have been spoiled in Seattle (maybe that would be the good name for a blog post title–”Spoiled in Seattle”. 

Still, Virginia awaits!!  I’m already looking forward to daffodils, cherry blossoms, azaleas, etc. in the spring, that first warm day when you walk outside in a short-sleeved shirt, summer with all the bug sounds that I love….and before I know it, we’ll be back again here for a check-up in October!  I have a feeling there might be a few tears when I leave here, not only because we’re leaving the city, but also because I’ve met so many wonderful people.  Also, as I mentioned previously, my mom and I strengthened our bond while out here.  If I didn’t have her to go through all of this with, I don’t think I could have done it.

Thanks to her, my family (especially Laura, with the gift of life!), my doctors and medical staff in Virginia as well as those here at the SCCA, and all of our friends, we kept right on marching, thinking about the future, and all the exciting moments awaiting us in life.

OK, now it’s actually 12 AM on Thursday, January 15th, DAY 100 post-transplant, and our travel day!!!!  I was so tired last night, I stopped midsentence and had to put the computer away.  Don’t worry…I’ll finish it tonight!!  So, here we are, all packed and ready to go.  We’ll arrive in DC around 10 this evening, and then Laura will take us back to VA!!!

I don’t know that leaving Seattle has really hit me yet.  My last clinic went really well, and Peter removed my Hickman catheter which is good on many levels:  the catheter is a source of infection, you have to cover it up with plastic when you shower, and there are lots of supplies I would have to take home if I still have the cathether, so now I have less stuff to take!!  The only negative about having the catheter gone is that all blood draws will be from my arms now…oh well!

I felt so sad saying goodbye to Jackie and Peter, but I know I’ll keep in touch and we’ll be back in October.  All looks good in my evaluations.  My white count is lower, as is my hematocrit, but they aren’t concerned.  One of the pills I’ve been on, Bactrim, can sometimes lower your white count, so they stopped that to see if it helped with my counts…I’ll find out next week when I go visit Dr. Kales.

The fact that we’re going home tomorrow didn’t hit home until I switched out the keys in my bag…out with the Pete Gross House, Apartment 606, and in with 7907 Oakshire!!!!!  That’s a significant moment, don’t you think?  I can’t believe we’ll be home this time tomorrow!!  Think good thoughts for a quick and smooth flight!

I wish I could write something inspiring right now, something deep about my experience, but I’m so tired, I just don’t have the inspiration to write anything.  I’ll just refer to a quote again, ’cause you know I love those! I know I’m going to feel sad and nostalgic tomorrow, and I found this quote in a book someone sent me that made me smile:  “The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears” - John Vance Cheney  I won’t be ashamed if those tears come tomorrow, once I start thinking back on my experience here.  I’ve been given another chance to live my life, and I’ve enjoyed Seattle so much.

Seattle, I will miss you, but I have photos and memories that I’ll always carry with me.  Thank you to everyone at SCCA for your hard work, your support, and your encouragement.  We did it!!  I am Laura!!  :)  I’ve never been too good at change, but this is obviously a necessary transition to make.  I’m ecstatic about getting home….I just can’t believe the moment arrived already!

I’ll write when I get back to VA!

Love to all from Seattle–our last night here.

Julie (and Carol)