Day eleven. Patrick has healed enough that the burn unit felt he could go home and continue his recovery there. Wound Care will evaluate his progress every three days while my daughter changes his bandages. We will return to Vanderbilt every week for a more thorough examination until they feel he can manage on his own.

Although we were thrilled to come home, to me it was bittersweet. I couldn稚 help thinking about some of my friends who have been in critical care units far longer than we were. I can only imagine how weary they are, and their journeys are nowhere near over. They are never far from my thoughts.

There was a small child on our floor the nurses took turns pulling around the burn unit in a little red wagon. She had been horribly burned from head to toe. Yet she was always smiling when I saw her. She loved to ride. Today the red wagon never moved from the place it had been parked. I hope she is okay.

The oncology unit is located on the opposite wing from where we stayed. Every evening a gaunt teenage boy slowly pushed his IV pole down the hall to the bank of elevators waiting for someone to come visit him. His eyes hollow. His face drawn.

There were others I cannot get out of my head. My heart is heavy for them all.

I left the Hotel Helipad not the same as I arrived eleven days ago.

I知 grateful. I知 happy. I知 sad. I知 changed. But most of all I知 aware how blessed we are, and there is always someone out there worse off than we are.

_______________
Rick Algood
September 30, 2019