When in Rome...

My friend A and I don't consider ourselves tourist, but travelers. Tourists (no offense) tend to have an agenda. We are going here at this time and doing this, eating that, pooping at this time. Sometimes, they're so focused on what they want to do, they forget to enjoy themselves and appreciate the little things on their way. In our trip to Italia, we learned the beauty of being a true traveler. Here's some things I learned while in Rome, to be more specific.

First things first. When you go ANYWHERE, make sure to have comfortable shoes. This might seem like the most logical thing, but it isn't to all of us. As a girlie girl, I tend to want to look cute at all times. This has impaired my better judgment many times. Sure, guys tend to compliment my shoes, but the price I pay is just too high. Having your feet pounding and swollen cause of your "style" is NOT cool. My friend A went with chucks all the way; except for the nights we went out.....I think she wore boots. She did not have to go through the agony I went through. I, on the other hand, decided to go with the more stylish flats (God, why!?) and 5 inch heels for the night out. Mind you, I can rock heels any day and my tolerance for them is pretty high. My new friend Marco said: "Rome is not high heels friendly, you're brave!" He was totally digging the heels, but he was also totally right. I'm sure I would have gotten attention without the heels just fine. Needless to say, my coach "sneakers" aren't meant for walking either. So, just because they're sneakers, it doesn't mean they're going to be comfortable. MAKE SURE YOU WEAR VERY COMFORTABLE SHOES!

Now that you have your comfy shoes and hopefully checked the weather and dressed appropriately, you are ready to start the most magnificent journey. ROME: The Eternal City.

Like I said before, these are just some of the things I consider MUST DOS while in Rome. First, you MUST take a guided tour of the Colosseum. I'm starting with the Colosseum cause it was my dream to stand by this place for ages and I was NOT disappointed when I did. It costs €5. extra for the guide, but it is SO WORTH IT! Yes, the Colosseum will be magnificent even if you don't know what it used to look like or what it was used for. It will be magnificent whether you go there by yourself or the love of your life. But having the knowledge of what the doors were used for, where the different classes would sit, where the facade of the Colosseum stands today, why it's missing what is missing, and more is just FASCINATING. Our friend H didn't get the guided tour, but lucky for her, we did the summarized version as we were walking out. I could sense the emotion A and I had was WAY more than the one H had as we left this lovely place. Pay the freaking five euros. You'll be happy you did!

Moving right along... right across the street from the Colosseum is the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. I hope you were taking notes when I mentioned the comfy shoes. You can literally spend all day walking here. We brought it down to a few hours, but still. The ruins, the trees, the floor, and the magnitude of this place is simply breath taking. Take time, you will be reading this a lot, to take this place in. Just walk SLOWLY and appreciate where you are standing, darn it! Also, don't be scared of having a cappuccino when you get tired in the middle of the day... it's the boost you need to continue- it's like magic!

You're probably gonna be hungry in between those two. That's no problem. If there's one thing romans know to do is eat. There's busses right outside the Colosseum where you can grab a sandwich. You don't need to go to a sit down restaurant. Remember I told you you have a long day ahead of you at the Forum. Also, while you're walking between one and the other, you might see a few guys handing out fliers for a pub crawl. Make sure you grab one!!!!! You don't need it, but that way you don't forget to go change after the forum and go back to the front of the Colosseum to meet with these guys and have a GREAT time. If I'm not mistaken, it is €20, but it covers 2 hours of all you can drink and drink games, a t-shirt, and 2 other clubs where the locals hang. So worth it!

On another day, you MUST go visit the Spanish Steps. Yes, it is just steps. RGH! I can't believe I just wrote that. No, it's not just steps, unless you are a retard! Seriously, you have to just take your time, SIT, and freaking breathe. BREATHE, take it in. It's so great! So great! If you have someone to make fun of other people with, it's even better, but if not, no worries, it will still be great.

You could eat some gelato while you are taking the steps in. Gelato in Italy is AMAZING! So is the prossuito, the pizza, the tiramisu, and the pasta.... I did tell you they know how to eat, so forget about dieting while in Rome. You'll be losing weight from all the walking you'll be doing anyway, so eat on!

So you took the steps in for a little while and had a conversation with an italian. Hey, don't tell me you're going to Rome and not even attempting to have a conversation with a true roman. They're accent is to die for. Try it! They'll try to understand you too.

Dear Fontana di Trevi,

   

  How terrific are you! I love you!

Yours truly,

Marie.

Again, take your time, take it in. We had prossuito ham and wine by the fountain, made fun of the guys that won't take no for an answer trying to take your pic, and threw some € (euros, in case you hadn't figured it out yet) while we were at it. You have to see it during the day, but also at night. It's two completely different "to do" items.

Last, but not least by any means, The Vatican. Again, take your time to take it in. There's just something about these places that make them magical. You have to go into the Basilica and see the original Pieta, you have to see how there's skulls and dragons inside where the Pope gives mass. You MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST see the Sistine Chapel. Even if you're not Catholic; I swear the Vatican has so much more to do with art than it does religion. Guess what I'm going to say next.... :) Yes, take your time and take it in!!!!! YOU HAVE TO! All I have to say about this place where you are not to take any pictures by the way is WOW!!!! Yes, enjoy the gardens and the museums, but if all else fails, don't leave Rome without going inside this charming place.

There's tons and tons to see and take pictures of. I can suggest to bring an extra €2 so you can buy yourself a converter and bring your camera charger, so that you can charge your batteries every night. But again, you have to walk as much as you can, so you can take the sites in. Talk to as many people as you can and don't leave it for when you go to the club cause you won't be talking there. Eat as much as you can and have fun while asking for smelly cheese for your brother to someone that ONLY speaks italian (oh wait, that's just me). Most importantly, LEAVE YOUR CELLPHONES AT HOME!

Hope this is helpful. Til next time... thanks for reading. 

Visualyzing your goals...

It may seem silly to some of you when people tell you that you have to see yourself where you want to be in order to get there. I always thought it was kind of silly to tell you the truth, but went with the flow anyway. 

I had always, always wanted to see and play with snow. Make a snow angel (nothing to do with my ex, for crying out loud), a snowman, put a carrot on it's face... the works! You know, the kind of stuff you do when you grow up around snow and take for granted. Not judging, we take for granted being able to make sand castles in the caribbean. So back in 2009, I decided to start a "possibilities" book. Yes, like the one Queen Latifah has in the movie "Last Holiday" (very cute movie). My first page was:

Granted, it took me until my last visit to Phoenix (thanks, Lori) to be able to see snow, play with it and do all the crazies I had thought of. Flagstaff was beautiful and snow was everything I always imagined it would have been. I'm sure living in it wouldn't be as fun, since it gets all muddy. But to me, it was PERFECT. Let it snow, check. 

My second page on my possibilities book was nothing but Italy. Oh, Italy.... So it took me longer than projected, who cares!? The important thing here is that it was accomplished. 

I'm gonna share with you something that I consider personal... and yes, you might think it's a little crazy, but.... I'll elaborate a little afterwards...

Okay, so these were my goals about two years ago. I did tell you I went with the whole visualization thing though I thought it was silly. Here's what has happened since: 

1. I became a flight attendant. I had no idea the girl and the suitcase meant that exactly, but I knew I wanted to travel. CHECK. 

2. I've been to St. Maarten, Salt Lake City, Utah, Maine, and other places I never thought I'd visit. Many places to visit, CHECK and still counting.... 

3. Nice hotels, CHECK.

4. New friends that I could be like Sex and the City with.... LMAO! Check!

I'm still working on the cruise, the husband, and possibly kids. I also have to get my behind back to writing... BUT my whole point is, visualization works!

So, I'm not telling you to go crazy printing out what you want and spending time making a poster like I did. I admit that was a little too much, but in my defense, I'm a visual learner so I need visuals. To each it's own. You could simply pick up a napkin and a pen and jot them down. But make sure you keep it with you. Your subconscious will be working on getting you to achieve your goals. Try it. There's nothing to lose and theres lots to gain from it. 

Til my next post. 

:P 

Seize the day!!! and look after what makes you happy...-Dedicated to Nadia Sofia (RIP)

It is with tears in my eyes that I write this post. Funny enough I had just written of how tears cleanse and help you start over. But these are not those type of tears; these are happy tears. As you all know, my brother Omar is a twice heart transplanted patient, who's been through hell and back a few times. He makes note of all the monsters and battles he's put up with. He still battles to breathe the congested air, drink the poisonous water, and see our cloudy skies.
LIFE IS PRECIOUS.
I have to be thankful to the Villalba family that allowed their son, brother, cousin's organs to be used. Unfortunately, back in 1998, this heart was damaged. Whoever this happy heart belonged to was hit so hard by a car, that there were clots in his organs and we were not able to use his much needed heart.
Back in the same year, another healthy girl loses her life. This time, the UNKNOWN family to Matilda (that's the name Omar gave her donor) also allowed her organs to be used and allow others to live. Matilda's heart beat inside Omar's body for a long 13 years. Regardless of his massive rejection and heart attack; Matilda's heart beat strong.
One other family lost a young man. Mind you, my descriptions are brief because that's all we know. All we know is their time of death was some hours before Omar's big surgery. This one was also from Orlando, FL. Small world if you ask me. This heart was sick, but strong.
Three hearts, three losses, three gains, three families.
It breaks my heart to know that some families refuse to share their lost one's organs. Mind you, the patients are not asking for something that is being used by your loved one. Neither they're asking to hurt your loved one. They're simply asking for a chance. A chance to live longer. A chance for those organs that otherwise would go either to a burner, a grave, or the trash.... Instead, those organs could safe someone's life. I just came across a blog and after a family had agreed to donate the organs, the patient was told they changed their mind. Being the optimistic person she was, Nadia Sofia was grateful and understanding of the plan of God and was waiting for another heart. Sadly, Nadia didn't make it; she parted this world. Im not saying you have to donate your loved ones organs. This is a VERY personal decision and we all respect that.  We also appreciate the ones that DO. All I'm asking is for you to at least consider it? Give people like Omar and Nadia. People like David and Belmari and all the other transplant patients a chance. David is no longer with us either, but his family enjoyed him a little longer thanks to a family saying yes.

Tears

I am not ashamed of who I am, of what has brought me here today. I am not ashamed to say I've cried many nights or that I've lowered my standards in the past. Hey, I count that as community service. I'm not ashamed to say that I've been wrong to love whom I've loved and not to love whom I haven't. It is true that one cannot dictate in the matters of the heart. Regardless, as I always say to my readers: there's always a lesson to be learned. 

I learned to wipe my tears in silence. Hell, I've learned to accept a tissue or two from others when I'm being loud, too. I learned to wear more of that concealing paste. I even learned a few makeup tricks. But most importantly, I learned that tears do heal. Unfortunately for me, when you cry, you do look like crap, BUT afterwards, you come to accepting your situations and move on. 

Unfortunately, when it comes to losing a loved one, you never get over it. But most of the time, you come to accepting that they are gone and learn to appreciate the moments of joy you lived with the person. It's hard, especially when you truly loved them, but it's life. 

I always tell my readers: "they always come back" when it comes to relationships... and they DO! Funny thing is, it is usually a little too late. When you've already gone through the healing process and are able to tell them to go on their merry way. And IF they're lucky enough that you want to give it a shot, it usually doesn't work out anyway. 

Tears can be a symbol of washing away. They wash away the pain and allow for a new beginning. And aren't we all worthy of a new beginning? So allow yourself to cry if you need to, but remember that you only live once, so don't go wasting time crying when you could be having a blast starting over. 

xo, 

Marie

old to new- de clutter

Do (it won't be done by itself... you gotta get your behind up and DO)
Eliminate things you do not need (you might want to look into what need means and learn to differentiate     between needs and wants before doing this.)

Cut your belongings by a fraction (1/8, 1/4, 1/2-- My magic fraction seems to be 1/2. I cut my clothing down to half, my pictures down to half, nail polishes, books... you name it. Feels so good and liberating!)
Lose the things that make you sad or bring negative energy to your life (if there are negative feelings or energy or you really just don't like it all that much, why the hell would you keep it? Donate it to someone else)
Use your space wisely (make sure you only keep things that you absolutely love or make you feel good about yourself)
Take your time to do this (nobody's rushing you... just make sure you do SOMETHING)
Time is not of the essence, but determination is (once you make your piles of "not to keep" things, get rid of them... don't put them in the attic, or the closet, or the garage... get RID of them)
Evade the "what ifs" and the "I'll use it later" (really? My mom went ah! when I told her I got rid of her trampoline. Really mom? She's like: I was just telling your cousin I'm gonna use it. TOO BAD! Been there for over 3 years, untouched! I'm sure you'll live!!!! She just laughed cause she knew it was nothing but the truth. Be true to yourself and if that shit's been sitting there for 3 years, get rid of it!!!)
Reduction is key. I'm not suggesting you take as drastic a step I've taken on getting rid of things. However, when you let go of all the old and bad, you are making room for all new and good things to come into your life. :)

One of my favorite sayings has always been: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" ∼ Albert Einstein

A grandfather is twice a father-from the old blog

Yesterday, there was a storm outside. It rained really hard, the wind blew hard and the lake in the backyard seemed angry. Why wouldn't the world be angry? It lost a very loved, very bright, very kind man. And truth be told, not many of these are left.
But in case you weren't one of the lucky ones to meet this wonderful man, I'll tell you a little about him.
Willing- Among many things, regardless of whether he would piss mama off or not, he was always willing to help others. Always willing to give you a spanking (ouch) and always willing to tell you about God.

Intelligent- If you think you're smart, I would have LOVED to see you have a conversation with my grandpa. Such a smart, talented man. He was a GENIUS in so many areas. Animals, (cars, not so much) war, religion, politics, plants, life, among others. After having a conversation with him, you better go pick up some books to try not to feel so dumb.
Loving- He could spank the crap out of us... he would burn our legs with the belt, too. But he was always there for us. He always showed great love for his whole family and for others in need.

Laughs generator- Wacky! OMG! I guess some of us come up with the craziest songs... but papa... he took the cake on that one.
Remember flaca? LOL! Flaca was among the favorites: "Flaca, tremendamente flaca estas. De lado no se te puede ver, y de frente para verte, hay que mirarte bien. Te pareces una aguja, con sombrero un alfiler. Y de noche para poder verte, una luz hay que encender"
Interesting- Spending a day with papa would not have a dull moment. From great stories from when he was young and a loaf of bread with butter was only one cent, to trapping nasty "mangostas" to fixing anything around the house, to cutting and sucking the heck out of sugar cane, to drinking coconut water from the coconut he had just opened with the machete, to picking mangoes in the patio, to giving milk to the baby goats from bottles.... etc, etc, etc.
Awesome- this about sums it up. Papa was just the bestest grandpa EVER

Misanthropic- (lol, maybe for lack of better term) If you were a male... he was not gonna like you, period. Especially, if you were trying to go out with one of his daughters or granddaughters and were acting all nice in the house and my grandma would serve you lemonade or soda. "what is he doing in my house?" he would say very loudly.... "he should leave". Embarrassing, but very entertaining. (I always warned my friends about this before they stepped foot in the house, saved a couple of friendships)
No wonder the world was sad yesterday. It lost a great man!
Long live papa....

Updated version

A new beginning in the journey
(updated version)

My brother Omar asked me to do this again, so here it is: 

June 3rd- The call. How to feel? Is this the greatest birthday gift or what? A new heart will be put in my body tomorrow- the day I am to turn 33. I'm scared! This could be IT for me. This could also be a new opportunity. Pray for me!!!!
I don't know about you, but to me-- that's a shit load of stuff to be going through your head as you are being submitted to a second heart transplant.

I got the call as I laid in bed trying to figure out how to study for my final exam for my new job. "If I don't pass, I'm stuck with this job I currently have and that is not an option." Study... how do you even begin to look at all those notes in front of you when all you want to do is leave the hotel room and be with your family? I was told, however, to stay and finish what I had started. He would be fine. Omar would be fine. 

June 4th-
THE TRANSPLANT....
First, let me explain to you how much of a miracle this is. Omar was number 8 on the list. SEVEN people rejected the heart. Not because they didn't want it, since I'm sure they would appreciate getting THE WAIT over with, but because they were not compatible. The heart was infected by a bacteria; however, this bacteria did not kill our donor, so it wasn't enough reason for Aranda, Omar's cardiologist, (I LOVE THIS MAN) to say "Yeah, not so much... let's keep waiting". "We have to try!" is his motto.
Dr. Aranda (Did I say I love this man?) was not supposed to be on duty the 3rd, but he was. He's been Omar's doctor for a while and he's become part of our family.... and I'm not just saying that. 
Dr. Stapples (the actual surgeon- head of the team) was not supposed to be on duty either, but he was... So, his actual team was ON while they were not really supposed to be. Some say coincidence, I say God's will. 

Dr. Staples had talked about wanting to do a bypass during the transplant. See, Omar's Cava vein is completely blocked due to all the scar tissue built up after biopsies. While doing the procedure, Dr. Staples couldn't find the vein that goes from Omar's brain to the heart. It has to be there somewhere, but where? Needless to say you can only keep a body opened for so long and the bypass was not possible. THE HEART IS IN and beating. 

Infectious disease needs to get involved due to the bacteria. BOMBARDING Omar's body with antibiotics seemed to be the right thing to do. After all, it's keeping the fever down and the blood cells kinda even....

June 6th- Omar seems to be recouping from surgery perfectly. He seems alert and Oh I can't wait to see him without that breathing tube. I'm sooo happy to see him... ALIVE.

June 7th- I passed my final exam and I am officially hired. 

June 11th- Omar is getting better. He attempts to dance to Neruto's song while playing on his ipad. Later, he is giving the bird to the TV for showing Casey Anthony's trial. He's shown happy and mad, so I know his brain is working. They're talking about taking the breathing tube out soon. THANK GOD! 

June 21st- THE DECLINE- FUCK!

Omar's heart rate goes CRAZY! It goes from like 90 to 40 to 240 in a matter of seconds. It got so out of control,  Omar was actually dead.... CPR is performed and Omar comes back.

I am taken out of my assignment and get sent home. NOT a good feeling. When I get to the hospital, there he is... dead-like. With more IVs that I can count at a glance, with a nurse all to himself. A chemically induced coma is how they are able to somewhat manage his heart rate. I feel my own heart rate pause. My brother... he's been through so much and he was doing so well... 

June 22nd- Omar's heart rate continues to act up. I see the nurse is doing something, but goes right back to her computer to what I assume is update the patient's information. The heart goes from 176 to about 50 in a few seconds. I'm staring at the monitor when I hear BITCHY McBITCH say to the girl shadowing her: "oh just ignore it". "I  don't think you should ignore it" I said calmly. "What do you want me to do?" she replies aggravated.
Me: "Not ignore it, for sure"
BMB: "I don't have to watch my language" "My priority is my patient"
Me: "your priority should always be your patient, but YES, you do have to watch your language. If it was YOUR family member in that bed borderline dead, I BET you wouldn't want to hear the words IGNORE IT" when referring to the one thing that caused the CPR to begin with"

The heart rate starts to normalize. 

BMB goes running out of the room, mumbling God knows what and then complaints to the nurse in charge. I laughed and grabbed my phone and the head nurse's boss' card and shoot her an email that said:
"Hello Danielle, 

This is Omar Otero's sister, Marie. I just advised Erica, the nurse Omar has at this moment to please refrain from using the word ignore when referring to my brothers blood pressure. I have no doubt shes an excellent nurse and by all means I'm NOT saying not to put her on. However, she went complaining about me to whoever is here and I'll be damned if Im ever told I can't stand for my brother. 

Aparently, she got offended that I said somenthing, but as I said to her: Im not here to argue with nurses, but Im sure not here to hear them say they'll ignore the blood pressure when its at 176 because that just unacceptable. Maybe she wasn't ignoring it, but if it was her brother, father, son, or husband laying there, Im sure she wouldn't want to hear it either. 

I just wanted to let you know because I don't want this to escalate any further, but if I see or hear something wrong, I will always speak out. 

Thank you, 

Omayra M. Otero"

Outcome: BMB was not allowed to take care of Omar or go to the "POD"(the ICU rooms are divided into pods of like 6 patients) where he was. You mess with me, you're taken out of the kool POD! Take that BMB!!!! :)

Sometime in July- Omar gets shingles. Oh joy! Per PubMedHealth, Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.The first symptom is usually one-sided pain, tingling, or burning. The pain and burning may be severe and is usually present before any rash appears.

Red patches on the skin, followed by small blisters, form in most people.

• The blisters break, forming small ulcers that begin to dry and form crusts. The crusts fall off in 2 to 3 weeks. Scarring is rare.
• The rash usually involves a narrow area from the spine around to the front of the belly area or chest.
• The rash may involve face, eyes, mouth, and ears.--- AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Still in July- The first catheter they put in stopped working due to a clog. OH MORE JOY!!!! Let's switch it to the right leg. Well- temporarily. So, down we go to the O.R. (Operating Room) to get the cath switched. All is fine and dandy until they get to the room and due to the excessive fluid retention in his tummy, his chest burst open.  

A little wound vac is put in place: Per KCI, V.A.C.^® Therapy promotes wound healing through Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). By delivering negative pressure (a vacuum) at the wound site through a patented dressing, this helps draw wound edges together, remove infectious materials and actively promote granulation at the cellular level.

This V.A.C. causes a little abscess on the top part of his wound. Like Omar hasn't been through enough as it is, "We have to open the chest cavity and check that the abscess is not going to cause further damage." So now the VAC is covering his whole chest, except for about an inch that the team was able to keep closed. The VAC is not something that stays there until you heal completely. The sponges used to aid the healing need to be exchanged every other day to prevent bacteria. 

"It's time to change the dressing" says Joe. "Stay in the room" Omar said. I had to take a seat before I fell on my knees. See? I'm smart enough to know how much I can handle. Joe (one of Omar's nurses) was explaining everything as he changed the dressings. Pulling the huge piece of sponge out of the wound, exposing the 1.5 inch deep wound, cleaning around it, sticking another huge piece of sponge, using tape to guard the wound from opening up even more.....

Dr. A calls his mom in PR. She's one of those nuns "carmelitas" and she sent Omar a blesses escapulario to wear. She's been helping us with tons of prayers as Barbie, titi Ita, Shirley, Dana, Heather, and everyone else that's been praying. 

August 2nd- Still in the Intensive Care Unit, someone comes to the room and tells Omar that they're pretty much out of options. That the catheter would be moved from leg to leg until there's nothing else they can do. She adds that he'll never be able to walk as he has the catheter in and goes on her merry way. 

GOD KNOWS WHY I WASN'T there, but it was probably for the best (I'm sure it was). In my defense, I am NOT a trouble maker, but you can't be STUPID and expect no consequences.  

Omar is nothing short of a compilation of miracles and he sure likes to prove IDIOTS wrong. 

August 3rd- Blessed be the day!!! I heard "Burimng" (my brother's pet name for me) coming out of Omar's lips. I couldn't address the emotions going through my whole body, so I say: "why didn't you tell me" to my mom. 

August 4th- The cath got moved on the 3rd to his left leg, low enough in his leg so he can finally sit up without risking his internal organs. UP HE GOES!!!! A week later, he's standing ((Thanks Angie, PT)). 

Omar's motto: KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS!!!! --- Whoever she is, wherever she is; she's obviously NOT a believer and very much CLUELESS! I feel sorry for you. 

August 12th- OUT OF ICU, buddies!!! (Omar said to stop cursing... lol)

August 18th- He stood up for one minute and 24 seconds. 

Took 4 steps into a chair; a real chair!!!! Hey! If you're thinking that's nothing, try laying on a bed for two months and see what your muscles do when you try getting up again. I'm just saying! :)

August 25th- Omar walks a total of 30 feet. 

Sometime in September- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!! 

Omar gets sent back to ICU a day prior to his scheduled release from the hospital. Frustrating, but necessary. His white cell count was a little to high and his vowel movements give up and he gets an inflammation on his esophagus. So back in the ICU, our cousin Juito that had come to visit and was so excited about the release gets sick. So he's in Gainesville, but can't go see Omar. Omar is bummed and hungry. He's not able to walk because he's at high risk of any and all infections. He's not able to talk to anyone because the room they put him in had NO PHONE SIGNAL. He's not able to drink any water or eat any food for a few days. When he's finally able to suck on the ice chips, he dances of joy. His eyes widen and he smiles. He chews and hears the crunch of the ice. Best THING EVER! A few days later, jolly rancher candies are allowed. The sour ones are too much to handle, since everything BURNS. 

Late September- He gets sent back to the regular room. 

October comes... Omar is now sent to the rehab hospital. He's excited he's out of Shands, but he's still in a hospital. FOUR months in and out of ICU, fighting for his life, wanting to give up (we won't let him), having to deal with monsters and hallucinations... but still ALIVE.