Day +1 Today is my birthday! Happy Birthday to me!

Well OK it’s not my birthday anymore,  but I did have one.  I actually had two.  Admittedly this is not the way I had expected spending any birthday and especially not my 50th.  But truly it was as good as it could possibly be.  Here is just a little something to help celebrate!

It was day +1 the day after I got my stem cells back, and we were in a holding pattern.  My sister came to see me, and help me get ready to pack up most of the things they would not be letting me keep in my isolation room.  That pretty much meant everything had to go.    But she did manage to bring in some goodies for me on my special day!

There were cards from home that made me cry.  Those got packed up so no pictures of them.  But they are packed in my bags,  and I will have them when isolation is over. We also had  some candy, and  cookies and other sweets that I was more than happy to share.  Of course it was also my last day to have any pizza so we had that,  and there was a cake which we also had some of as well.  All in all it really was a pretty good birthday as birthdays go.

I did spend a great deal of time on line reading birthday greeting from home.  You were all too generous in your thoughts and accolades.  I really am just thankful that you are out there cheering me on through my journey.  Some of you were really die hard birthday people.  I actually got to celebrate for three days,  because of the time change,  and confusion on some peoples parts.  But I’ll take what I can get.  I read every note and greeting.  I tried to respond to as many as possible, and to others at least acknowledge with a “like” if nothing else.

Next year will be entirely different.  When I get home, and Dan and I are well, we are going to have a rip roaring party that will not soon be forgotten.  He shaved his head in solidarity with me today.  There is a video on his page and on my page and on MS let it go.  I’ll have to pull that one back up when I find it.  It is a tear jerker for sure.  I am a lucky girl indeed!

It was difficult to be away from him on this special day, but I was very happy to have my sister here with me for one last day.  This sadly was our last day, since she left early the next morning to catch her flight home.  She is resting hopefully in Palm Springs now I hope.  Have a margarita for me babe!

I had always intended to make this trip alone.  Many have gone before me, and I’m sure there will be many who will come after, with no companion.  I have to say I really thought it was a huge burden, and a waste of her time to spend 17 days in Moscow doing nothing but looking after me.  She just sat in my room and comforted me when I needed it.  That is all a person can ask for.  This time for me is priceless, and I can never repay her for her kindness and generosity.  I love my big sister and cannot thank her enough.  I miss her every day.  Here is our last picture and the words she posted for me on Facebook.

 

I really don’t feel brave.  I have been scarred to death at the prospect of everything that has happened and is happening to me.  Had it not been for the warriors who have been before me and shared their stories, I would not be here today.  Thank you to those ladies.  You know who you are.  Someone did say to me once about bravery, that it was’t about being fearless.  It was about overcoming your fears and forging ahead.  Well if that is the case, I guess you can say these last two weeks I have been a little brave.