Brittany

As some of you know, John has a second cousin Brittany, who is here at Seattle Children's Hospital. She is a super courageous kid, well, teenager (everyone under the age of 25 seems like a kid to me!) I've been lucky to be able to get to know her through her stays here at the hospital. Today, I hope I was able to be of some comfort to her as she had to undergo an emergency procedure to put a chest tube in to drain out air that had escaped from her lung into her chest. She put on her brave face and had the procedure, which has successfully let the air out so her lung could regain it's shape and start working again.

I am still amazed by the health care we have here in Seattle. Her nursing team was awesome today. She had a nurse, Brittany, who went the extra mile and stayed with her, past her shift, to make sure she was being taken care of. It reminded me of one of my favorite nurses on 7SE, May, who worked tirelessly to get my pain under control after surgery and went the extra distance to always make me feel like I was her only patient. I was always surprised to know that she had roughly two other people she was looking after. And also Michael, Christy, and Jennie, who were also the best and saw me through the chemo. I also fondly recall Dan, my chemo nurse at SCCA , who told me exactly what to expect and when to take meds so that I would feel the best I could after chemo.

I'm glad I can be in the position I am right now, slowly rocking in the chair beside Brittany's bed, looking out for her as she sleeps off the anesthesia. I'm so glad she is comfortable, and her breathing is so much better. I wouldn't probably be able to be in this position without my "team" which includes my wonderful husband, my best friend Katrina, my amazing family, and all my great friends who supported me while I was down. I'm excited to look towards a wonderful 2009, knowing that I am well and all the cancer is behind me.