When I was first admitted to the hospital here in NY, I was terrified to be away from home. I was just sure I would be alone. My best friend had just gotten a job ten minutes from my home in DC and I knew if I stayed in the hospital there I could at least see her and my family everyday. In New York, I honestly thought no one would visit. Boy was I wrong and just being a Knegative Karen — sorry I had to go for the silent alliteration there 😉

This past weekend my room in the cardiac ICU was flodded with visitors. Two of my best friends from middle school, Michelle and Katie, both came from opposite parts of the country to visit…me. Like what? Michelle flew all the way from Detroit, taking a leave of absence form her service program and Katie drove all the way up from DC. In addition to them, my boyfriend and other Fordham friends came to visit after homecoming.

I was honestly overwhelmed. 32 days in the hopsital now, I really got used to the fantastic triumverate: me, myself and I. All the guests, however, really just took me out of my head and made me smile.The only frustrating part was the charge nurse yelling at them to not “loiter in the hallway” while I peed and she wouldn’t let them all be in my room at once. Meanie. I still don’t get why they couldn’t all congregate in my crowded room despite lack of seating, but I have since understood the loitering rule. It wasn’t till I had mopey people standing outside my room for five awkward minutes that I understood. Their faces were depressing, their presence was cluttering, and they totally kept looking in my room judging me for looking too healthy. Stranger, PLEASE! You don’t know what I’ve been through, so stop judging. Ultimately, loiterers are not a good idea. I digress.

Up until everyone visited this weekend, I hadn’t been able to eat post-op. I just stared at my dry cheerios and protien packerts every morning and there they sat until I could see the sunset through the blinds.

Saturday, something in me said, “order chinese food, Karen.” And so I did. I could not stop eating low mein, orange chicken, and rice. For litterally and hour I continued eating noodle after noodle and carbs are filling. I don’t even the last time I was so happy. I haven’t been happier from then on until today when I finally was relieved of the Chinese-induced constipation. Sorry, not sorry for the TMI.

Nom. Nom. Nom.

Although, Michelle, brought real joy to me, Sunday, when she brought me a buffalo chicken wrap. Let us please take a moment of silence to remember just how delicious those damn wraps are. They were the best part of Fordham, next to Father McShane and the view from the school’s bell tower I stole my sophomore year.

More than food, my friends also brought presents. Katie bought me a beautiful Tiffany ring with X’s and O’s, so that I am always wrapped in hugs and kisses. It looks really nice with the Tiffany infinity ring my other bff Stephanie sent up for me and with the Tiffany necklace my boyfriend had gotten me. There are two things a girl can never have enough of: Tiffany’s and good friends. So, call me spoiled.

You can catch a glimpse of my birthday bling :]

I genuinely am so grateful for my friends and the time they took to come and visit me. Honest to goodness, I swore my mom would be my only visitor. So thank you to everyone who has come to see me this past month. Even more than that I get so many kind wishes from people and I still hear, daily, from my best friends who can’t always make it to visit. It is nice knowing I’m actually cared about. In what would be a really tough time, my spirits are lifted. You all warm my broken heart!

A poster from my child life therapist that once was blank and only read ” we ❤ you Karen” and I thought it actually might stay that way. But nope 🙂

xx