It was Monday morning the 16th of September. I woke up to a knock on the glass of my bubble. The nurse on duty had a warning for me. Dr. Dave would be in at some point in the morning to treat me to another bone marrow aspiration. I knew it was coming. He would deliver the pain along with a date for my release. So he said at the end of last week. I was so ready to go home. I knew it would be rough transitioning to civilian outpatient life but I couldn’t wait to get out. Preparations were being made at home for my release. My parents had the bedroom ready. Lori was on call to be ready to take off and come get me. Poor girl was ready to burst. Just another two weeks to go for Joe. She was still working everyday and coming to the hospital every afternoon. Everyone was excited.
Dr. Dave rolled in with his entourage and tray of big needles and syringes. I swear that he loved torturing me. So, I assumed the position, grabbed the table with my hands and toes. You know the drill. The news afterwards would be worth the pain. “Ok Keenan, you are going home Wednesday”. Woohoo! It was an emotional moment for me. I had made it. My fifty/fifty chance of leaving the hospital dead or alive was over. This didn’t mean that I was totally out of the woods though, it meant that my odds were getting better. I started preparing for departure. All set to go, packed and ready. Wednesday morning came and went. Dr. Dave wasnt ready to let me go yet. Talk about a let down. Friday the 20th was the new date. Really?
Ok…now we fast forward to Friday. The stage is set. Paperwork signed, all of my precious pics of Nick packed up, dressed in actual street clothes and sneakers. Sneakers. I haven’t worn shoes in almost two months! All of the nurses on duty were there to say goodbye. They were just amazing the whole time. I still was quite shaky though. Dr. Dave gave me the exit interview. I would see him on Monday. Lor and my Dad were there to take me home. The wheelchair ride to the front door led me outside into a glorious sunny afternoon. Freedom.
In the car, the smile I wore under my mask was unprecedented. Our first stop was my house to see Nicky. The ride seemed like forever. When we pulled up to the house I could barely hold the tears back. Nick would be waiting for me along with Nonno…Lori’s dad, and Karen, our nanny. Fifty six days ago I left him. I didnt look like his dad anymore. I wouldnt be able to stay long, just a few minutes. The garage door went up and I got out of the car and waited at the entrance. The inside door opened and out he came. “Hi buddy” I said. Very hesitantly he walked towards me. He looked confused. Almost frightened. After all, I looked awful. I stood there and waited a second more for him to come around. All of a sudden he said “Daddy!” and ran into my arms. You needed a mop to wipe all of the tears from that garage floor. I just held him. He had grown so much. So beautiful. This is what I was fighting for. This is what kept me going. This is why there was no way that I wasn’t going to beat this crap. This was the best welcome home ever!
Next up: No Freakin Way!