So it’s April 27th and it’s a routine day of normal activity. I get up, get dressed, eat some breakfast and decide what errands I need to run for the day. Today, I decide that I need to take my car to the doctor for some TLC! So off to the Mercedes dealership I go to schedule an appointment. At least I have one errand down, and now it’s time to head to the supermarket. I needed to pick up groceries for dinner tonight. My mom put in a request and since she has been taking care of me during my waiting period, I can make her dinner. Now my second errand is done for the day and I’m on my way home. That is until my phone rings and its “KJ” asking me to stop by the job, so off I go for a quick stop.
Well, this is when everything that was typical about my day turned into a life-changing day! I never leave my phone in the car but I was literally just running into the office for a minute. That minute turned into 30 minutes and boy oh boy so much happened in those 30 minutes.
As I’m sitting in the office, “KJ’s” phone rings and I could hear my mom on the other end of the phone. She asked him if I was there and I took the phone. As I said hello, she frantically says “Monique, they called and THEY HAVE A LIVER FOR YOU. You have to leave now!” I jumped up and gave “KJ” his phone and said, “I have to go. I have a liver”! As I started to run out of the office excited, the realization set in that I was about to be cut open and operated on and I lost it. I cried and hysterically fell backwards into “KJ.” I think every emotion hit me all at once- I was happy, worried, grateful but mostly just scared and nervous. I’m not quite sure “KJ” knew what to do because he seemed just as scared and nervous himself. He asked to drive me home, but I pulled myself together and told him I could do it, and that is what I attempted to do as I drove off.
Once I got in my car I was finally able to look at my phone and I saw that had 16 missed calls and 16 text messages starting at 3.45 pm. I couldn’t even begin to call anyone back because my phone was constantly ringing. The transplant nurse called to ask my whereabouts and ETA to the hospital. Once I told her where I was, she told me to call and get a police escort for me and my mom, so we could get to the hospital ASAP. We hung up and I called my mom to tell her I was on my way to pick her up, she said, “NO, you have to go straight to the hospital. I’m going to be right behind you. Just get there!” Next phone call that I received was my dad. He told me that he was leaving work and would meet me there and to call the police escort number. Once we hung up, I called the police escort and they informed me that they couldn’t guarantee an escort since I was crossing state lines and already en route. I gave them the year, make, and color of my car and they informed me they would alert the DE and PA police of my car traveling Northbound to Philadelphia. I’m glad that I called them because my car wasn’t’ stopping for anyone! As I was driving, all I could think about was I have to get to the hospital and it’s rush hour traffic time. Well, my prayers were answered because on this day there was a clear path and I was able to drive straight through to Philly.
As I started getting closer, I took a couple of calls from my sister, my doctor/friend Simona, “KJ”, a couple of friends, and the transplant nurse. All asking me how close I am to the hospital. At this point, I would literally be there in about 15 minutes, and I was a nervous wreck. I decided to call my girlfriend Aisha to see if she was close by and could meet me at the hospital. I wanted someone with so I wouldn’t be there by myself until my mom and dad arrived. Of course, she said she was on her way and that calmed me down some. It’s now about 5:40 p.m. and I pulled up to valet parking, jumped out of the car and headed into the hospital. The transplant nurse called me, and I informed her that I was here and heading up to Tower 8 now.
I’m going to end the story of the beginning of my journey here now because this was a long 2 days, and you can’t give everything away in ONE blog! So stay tuned because this story has just started.