3.

I had some very dear friends go to Oahu to be with me from the beginning, although I have thanked them I would like to take this time to extend a huge hug to Tera, Jo, and Aaron for making their way to my bedside and being there for me in my darkest hours. All of this happened while my parents were called and told of my accident and how serious it really was. This is a phone call that you never want your family to receive.  My mom got the first flight she could to Hawaii, out of LA, and depended on dear family friends to get her to the airport. All the while my Dad stayed home and waited to hear back from the hospital and let my sister and her husband know what was going on. Here is where I will let you know that it ts entirely possible that I have the best family EVER. They have loved and supported me, even when I had no idea what was going on. My best friend Lauren flew from North Carolina to be with me, her family came to Oahu for other family reasons and while they were in Oahu Lauren, her brother Randy,her mom Renee and her dad Mark were at that hospital willing me to get better. They supported my family and friends and officially became a second family to me - Lauren and I have always joked that we must've separated at birth because as adults we became friends very quickly and we never looked back.  My dear friend Kate also made it to Oahu to hold my hand and make sure I was receiving the treatments I so badly needed.   We had "slumber parties" in my hospital room and while I was in a coma Kate talked to the nursing staff and did her best to get My Mom to take care of herself.  My Mom, bless her heart, stayed with me in Hawaii the entire time until I was finally released from the hospital. My Dad and my sister came to the hospital in Oahu to see me and then went over to the Big Island to clean out my apartment and put my things in storage. They managed to bring back a few things they thought would be important to me (photos, recipe notebooks, stuffed animals, my computer, specific shoes - hey, I'm a girl). I cannot explain to you what it feels like to know, to really know, that the people you love most in the world will stand by your side and fight for you when you can't fight for yourself.