Today was my first full day back home and my goodness does it feel amazing!
Yesterday I was picked up at the apartment at 6:30 in the morning and said my final goodbyes to Gabby and I got in the van to go to the airport. I’m forever grateful for Gabby and the amazing job she has. Being a nurse tends to be a thankless job, but she is incredible. I’m so glad that we decided that my best option was to hire a carer from the hospital to be with me. It was so reassuring being with a nurse 24/7 during this treatment and to have her be from Mexico and familiar with the city we were in was priceless. I can’t imagine sending my mom or husband out to get groceries on their own or to have to keep track of my meds for me. Having Gabby with me all month took a lot off stress off of my shoulders.
I got in the van and had a nice ride with another patient, Richard, and his mother. It felt so surreal that treatment was really done and that we were on our way to go home. Once we got to the airport and Richard and I went our separate ways, things got a little crazy. This trip to Mexico was my first time flying alone and my first time traveling to a country where I don’t speak the language. Right away I was stopped by security and was asked to please remove my head wrap and mask that I was wearing. I got a little teary eyed removing my head wrap feeling very vulnerable and worried about how this was going to go navigating this airport and totally blanking on any Spanish that I knew. They finally had someone come over who spoke english and I answered a bunch of questions and then I was finally able to check my bag in and go to my gate. I was stopped 2 more times by security asking me to remove my head wrap and mask and on my 3rd time I accidentally dropped my mask and called it quits on the mask. I was getting pretty frustrated at this point but I was not about to argue with the security especially since I was in a foreign country. I finally boarded my plane and sanitized the heck out of my seat and anything I touched. The views flying out of Mexico were amazing and I was happy to finally be in the air on my way back to the USA.
I flew into Atlanta, GA for my layover and it was pretty emotional going through customs coming back home. I’m that person who cries during the National Anthem so to be standing at a desk that had a huge American flag hanging behind it and have the officer ask me some questions and look at my passport before handing it back to me saying, “Welcome home, Mrs. Medawar” had me pretty choked up! After the struggle navigating the airport in Mexico, being back in the USA felt like such a relief.
Reuniting with my husband and daughter back in Michigan was so amazing and I was a little afraid that I might break my daughter’s ribs from hugging her so tight. The month really flew by, but that didn’t mean it was easy being away that long. Before this, the longest I had been away from my daughter was 2 days. I was very ready to get home and give her a big squeeze. It is so good being home and sleeping in my own bed and talk with my family face to face instead of over FaceTime!
Today was my first full day back and it was filled with watching My Little Pony and doing laundry and playing hide and seek. Back to life, back to reality! I came home to a refrigerator and freezer filled with meals and the sweetest notes and gifts that friends have dropped off. The love surrounding me is amazing! I’m one heck of a lucky girl!
I’ll keep the updates coming as things worthy of updating come up. Tuesday I’m meeting with an allergy doctor to discuss the medications that are recommended post treatment, so I’ll be sure to update after that.
Adios, MS! 
Welcome Home, Ali💗
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