Yesterday was a very difficult day for all of us. Waiting to hear the results of Ella’s MRI brought us all back to those days when our emotions were in tatters, when we were waking each day not knowing if this would be Ella’s last. I tried very hard to concentrate on the logic; Ella just completed her radiation treatment, all MRI’s have shown no cancer re-growth. We shouldn’t see anything, it would just be very unlikely that the cancer had returned this soon. But of course we didn’t know for sure and the not knowing, was killing us.
My stomach has been in knots for a week, I knew this was coming and I tried to put it aside and just focus on getting Ella’s bedroom together, for her big homecoming. An hour before we got the word, I was almost in full panic-attack mode. Deb and I drove to Reno to get Ella a new kitten, because one of her pet kitten, Sebastian, died while she was in the coma. Since finding out about Sebastian’s death, Ella has been very concerned with our female kitten Gaffy, and whether she was getting too lonely and sad, without a friend. Ella said to replace Sebastian we would need to get two new boy kittens== and one new girl. She had names already picked out, and each time I tried to reason with her to compromise and just get one new kitten, she became quite upset. With all that she has been through I’m not going to spend a lot of time debating with her; she deserves to get anything she requests, and as Deb had a free day yesterday, we decided to drive to Reno and get the new kittens before Ella comes home.
This left Alycia at the hospital, reporting to us while we were on the road, the news of the day. There were a couple of times when we had no cell service while going up the mountain and over Donner pass, and I was freaking out. Driving faster than I normally would, to get to cell service quicker.
When Alycia called around 4pm, we were just getting back into Sonoma County with a car full of kittens and a belly full of butterflies. Deb answered the phone, my heart stopped for a moment, I held my breath, and then I felt her hand on my leg as she said “she’s fine, the results were negative”. A rush of emotion, tears gushing, heart beating again but racing as I gasped for breath.
Either way were bringing Ella home. Five months in the hospital is my limit, I think it’s Ella’s as well, hell I think it’s anyone’s. But bringing her home cancer-free was what we were hoping for, starting this long road of recovery with just a little less to worry about was certainly in all of our wishing pots. Is that a thing? Anyway, yes we all have these magical wishing-pots, they don’t do anything, but we didn’t care, we were filling them with hope and wishes anyway.
So our amazing landlord and good friend Jason Micheal came over and helped me build a ramp off the back porch for Ella’s wheelchair. He went and picked up materials for us, paid for them, refused to accept money from me when I asked how much they cost, and then proceeded to spend a perfectly good Saturday afternoon, sawing and hammering (nail-gunning) and just being an all around great fellow. He brought over his daughter Taelyr, she and Deb hung-out inside and went through some clothes that were donated to us, for Ella, as Ella has grown in the hospital over these 5 months, and no longer has any clothes that fit her.
We can’t bring her home naked! We’ve got to get that girl some clothes.
Deb said that while her and Taelyr were folding clothes, Taelyr said “I’m really sorry that Ella got sick, I wish it wouldn’t have happened to her, I really hope she gets better”. Deb had to hold back tears as I did too when she told me. Trust me Taelyr, I wish it wouldn’t have happened either, but at least Ella will have a good friend like you helping her get better. Friendship is a cure, a cure for a great many ailments. Ella and all of us have so many new friends now, we’re lucky to have them and value you them greatly.
Ella will be home on Thursday of next week, starting a new chapter in her incredible life. We’ll have to get used to these MRI’s, because we’ll be doing them every 3 months for the next 5 years.
Lets hope she walks into the hospital for the next one. This girl, I wouldn’t doubt it.
I cannot tell you how happy I am to read this.. even though I know it is so much you are dealing with still.. but am so glad of all these positive news on your blog!! Wow. goodness,.congratulations, super incredible awesome.. oh well, do not know how to say it the best. All my love to all of you, and of course to ella. My Ella seems to remember Ella so well, and keeps asking now and then ” can we have a play date with Ella Stewart? ” of course i am not sure when Ella is up for that, but Ella Speckhart seems to think it is a great idea ( my Ella does not know any more than that Ella had to go to the doctor).
Peace, smiles and hugs to you all