DAY 17 of the Journey! HURRAY!!!

Well.......SHE'S HOME!!!!!!!!!  After two weeks at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC), Janell has been released to come home.  The staff at the UWMC were phenomenal in their professional and personable treatment of Janell.   BRAVO!!!!!!




This  picture shows Janell dozing as she is "reading" that novel on her lap.  Notice all of the hanging bags and machines for her various IV's.  There are bags above the machines, hanging on the sides of the machines and hanging behind the machines.  Can you imagine having to drag that IV pole with you where ever you would go?  Janell did it with patience and grace.  (This is the picture I'm in trouble for posting when she sees it!)



This next picture is a portrait of patient ( excuse the pun!) Janell waiting to be discharged on Monday (7/19). Notice, there are no IV's, no tubes and no IV poles. The beautiful shawl she is wearing is a cozy prayer shawl created by Judy Bethea.  

 Here you see her gifts and cards.  Thank you!  They helped her spirits to maintain that fighting attitude, knowing that she is supported by you in this journey.    You also see her bags of clothes from her closet that she wanted so she could look her best and feel that there was some normalcy to her life.                        

You can imagine who transported all of this stuff from home and back again for her.  A person on the elevator gave me a curious look seeing me loaded down with all of these bags.  After sharing that Janell was going home today and referring to the load I was carrying, I quipped, "This is the reason she takes me shopping!"

This last picture shows her inside the elevator leaving the NE wing of the  8th floor she was restricted to for two weeks.  Notice the "reserved" smile of elation.  She later indicated that she wasn't going to celebrate until she was in the car and on the street driving away.  Then she would know she was not dreaming.

It is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good to have her home!  Now to get serious about my caregiver duties and your questions about possible visitations.  But that is for another post.