Dialysis Remembered

Having moved on from dialysis before, I knew that it was possible to be nostalgic for it. Still, this afternoon, having finished my last run, I was nearly overcome. I don't know, it feels almost like Stockholm Syndrome. To feel so much in a place that can be so impersonal, so transient. It's a few more medical personnel I probably won't see again, but also people who knew me for a year of my life. In October, when I was still optimistic about having surgery in January, I decided that I would have a transplant before I finished watching The West Wing. In December I started pacing myself. In February I stopped entirely and switched to Parks & Rec. I didn't want to finish the show without having a transplant. I was halfway through season 7, which is the final season. I was on the election episode. Today I watched Jimmy Smit's character get elected as the show became nostalgic for the Bartlett administration, and for the show itself. Today was my last dialysis run, at least for a while. I took a few photos, which I will include here. When I run on Monday Wednesday Friday, I'm not the last person on. And because the clinic is closed on Sunday, I'd never seen the tear down that happens Saturday afternoon. I'm going to miss aspects of the place, some of which were fairly unpleasant. I'm going to miss some of the people I ran with, especially because I didn't get to say goodbye - this all happened so fast. It's time for the next chapter. Thanks for reading.