Going Away Party At Emanuel

Friday was a very difficult day for us. We had to say good-bye to our friends and family at Legacy Emanuel. We love everyone at Emanuel. We are especially close with several nurses and our Dr's. They have become more then friends they are part of our extended family. We love them. They have seen us through some of our darkest days and they were there for some of the best. They were there every day with us caring for our daughter even when she wanted nothing to do with them. I know they all have great memories of Avarie yelling at them and telling them how much she doesn't like them. A few of them have some really funny stories from there time with Avarie and all of them know about her "sparkling personality". If any of her nurses are reading this and wish to share one of their fun memories of her I know we would all love to hear them and have them here for her for when she is older to go back and read.
Our nurses were there for us when we needed a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. They were there with chocolate peanut butter shakes in the middle of the night to celebrate Avarie hitting remission. They were there during all of the times her port stopped working and they had to try to pull labs at 4am. There are so many memories and we will miss them all so much. Emanuel became a home to us and it was very hard to say good-bye. I know there are several relationships that we formed there that we hope to always have with us. They will all definitely be invited to Avarie's graduation and dance recitals.
We are so grateful for the wonderful party that was put together by our wonderful Childlife Specialist, Jess. She put an amazing party together to say good-bye to Avarie. It was like Christmas morning. Avarie's brothers and sister received gifts too and not just little gifts either. It was a wonderful party and a lot of fun. Avarie was able to have two of her best friends from the hospital attend the party. One we knew would be there the other was a surprise. Italya is a little girl who Avarie would stay up late and play with. Some nights they both had late naps and so they would play Polly Pockets or watch a movie until late and by late I mean midnight. Then there was Devan. She is 13 and she took such an interest in Avarie. Devan and her twin sister Taylor painted Avarie's toe nails and finger nails or would sit and play with her and talk to her. Avarie loved Devan. We didn't expect to see her again, and were sad to see her admitted again, but grateful for the chance to say good-bye to her.
We are excited to be moving on to this next hospital and to a group of wonderful nurses to come. But I sure wish we could take our nurses with us. That would sure ease some of my concerns. Its hard to leave the people who have been caring for your daughter and know everything about her. They know her moods and that is definitely an advantage when caring for her.
We are planning a "Going to Transplant Party" for all of our friends and family too. We are in the process of planning, we are hoping to have it on Saturday. I will get more details to you in the next day or so. We're trying to secure a park with a covered area. So check back here tomorrow to see if I've had any luck with the planning.