Written February 13th, 2024
The girls have been so gentle around me. They have filled my days with smiles, naps together, and keep me laughing. Audrey knew I was getting a "haircut" while I was away at the "doctor". The first thing she did when I walked into our home when returning from Duke after surgery was run up to me and ask to see my new haircut. She loves playing doctor and when my head bandages need changed and my incision cleaned, she wanted to be a part of it. Her momma would hold her up to see and Jerome would give her pieces of surgical tape which she would put on my "boo-boos" (bruises on my arms from IVs). She never once shied away from seeing all the staples on my half-shaved head. She was always so in tune to how I felt, she would place her little hand on my arm and ask, "Nana, you ok? I love you, Nana", which was then always followed by a big hug. She loves the blood pressure machine and I have countless little videos of her playing with the cuff or pushing the buttons. For her to be only two and a half, she was very aware of what was going on around her and wanted to be a big part of it.
On our first day home from Duke, Spencer said the incision looked like an "S" and Kelsey told Audrey it was for "Super Nana". Now, when she sees my incision, she starts yelling "Super Nana!". The best rest is when she asks to "snuggle Nana". She loves taking naps with me and it gives my body time to rest and heal too. Her little head full of curls snuggled up against me with her favorite stuffy was always the best mid-day nap.
With Love,
Amber Hope
February 2024
It's only fitting that this year for Trick-or-Treat she wanted to be a doctor. I found her a dress-up doctor coat and surgical scrubs. She used my blue light glasses and a notepad and pen she would always use when playing doctor during my recovery. My 2024 calendar (the small notepad she would use) has her little scribbles all through it and I love it. She has such a compassionate heart. Maybe someday, when she is grown, she will become a doctor and make a difference in other people's lives the way my doctors made a difference in mine.
Audrey May, Trick-or-Treat 2024
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