Coming full Circle

My surgery to remove my mediport was successful with no apparent complications so far. I have to wait a week to get my mediport from the Pathology Department. Dr. Wagner said if they throw it out, he will just give me a new one and charge it to the hospital. I told him that I don't want it *that* badly (beside I want *my port*) but he was thinking of me ... so that is nice!

I have become all to familiar with the routine of outpatient surgery and general anesthesia and everything went as expected. I went through all the pre-op questions (x 5), scooted on the OR table and was asked "So where are we going today?" by the anesthesiologist.

I said: "Take me back to France, please ..."

AND THEN I WOKE UP IN RECOVERY.

I have always been a spiritual person, although I would hesitate to call myself religious. I have always tried to live rather intuitively and have had several experiences that I choose not to write off as "coincidence". So it was no big surprise to me to find that I ended up with the same recovery nurse that I had in March 2005 when I had my first round of Melanoma-related surgery.

When she came in the room, her first words were "You look familiar, I have taken care of you before?"

The answer was "Yes" and when she found out that I was "in" having had my port removed, She treated me to the biggest smile and actually said "This calls for a Happy Dance" and then this wonderful stranger did a spin and a wiggle and laughed!

Jim and I laughed right along with her and I gave her the biggest hug and said "Thank you!"

It might sound silly or weird, but having the same nurse in recovery made me feel like I am really coming full circle on this year of treatment. Things seem to be falling into place and wrapping themselves up and I am hopeful that these "good omens" are just the beginning of a lifetime of "No Evidence of Disease".

6 Weeks and counting ....Then some CT Scans and an MRIs every few months. It is a transition that I am looking forward too!