Surprise! It’s me!  After 6 long weeks, I am finally on my way home back to CA!  The doctors confirmed I was ready to return home and we are at the airport waiting to board. I am so excited.

To my brother Will, amazing friend Shari, #1 son Taylor, cousin Nikki, and niece Britt  - you have all seen me through the worst of this and I couldn’t have even begun to thank you for all your love, support, energy, and exhaustion. You took a week out of your life to come to MN and you had sleepless nights that didn’t seem to end, you got me through the pain and then laughed with me when I was a total mess... Thank you.

To the crew at USC Athletics who have not only given me the time off to take care of myself and heal but supported me with a loving video before I left that left me in tears, to sending me strength throughout my time here... we last saw each other March 13th when Covid changed all of our lives, but I look forward to reuniting back on campus. Fight On.

To the MN TPIAT transplant team, doctors and nurses you have given me the best care and my life back - Thank You.

To my sorority sisters (especially Carla) who surprised me with a box full of cards, books, movies, gifts, the most beautiful flowers, and above all else, showed me the power of sisterhood - ITB means so much more to me than ever before. Thank you. 

To my family for their endless love and support - Taylor, Henry and Dane, I have missed you guys so much (even though Taylor spent the week with me); and Scott, my rock, I love you.  And Liz and Ed for always checking in on me, sending me whatever I needed, and just being there for me and so much more, thank you.

And to the numerous people who followed me along, let me share my last few thoughts:

Was the surgery worth it? Yes. My pain, after 20 years, is finally gone.  Now the long road to recouperating begins. I’m not going to lie, there were incredibly tough days; worse than I could ever imagine. But to be rid of chronic pancreatitis and know that it is now a thing of the past is relieving.

How am I doing now? My brain is a bit fuzzy; I have a hard time recalling words and memory issues are going to be with me for a while, but it’s a side effect that will eventually subside. I’m also exhausted and take a nap now everyday, but hey, what’s wrong with that? 

What am I most looking forward to when I get home? Seeing my family... and my crazy, cranky, obnoxiously wonderful loving dog, Charlie.

So, as they begin to call people to board, I want to share this:  Above all else, I believe strongly in the power of prayer and I believe it is the prayers of those I know and don’t know that has lead me to my journey home.  Thank you everyone...