Not sure what time I fell asleep last night, but I know I woke up just after 1am! Finished the last sentence I was writing on yesterday’s blog when I obviously I crashed out and posted that. Then was wide awake… I realised the Robbie presale was about to start and I was chatting with Chantel who was at movie world and so we decided to try for tickets Friday and then a bit of Facebooking and even Lucy was awake in iso next door! I had a nutrition drink and at 3.30am I tried to go back to sleep! I think Im buzzing from the steroids, the adrenaline of completion, the excitement of heading home and seeing my babies!! I woke at 6.15 for my final blood test. The gorgeous nurse who did this was finished before I felt the prick. They are so good here… I have never seen care like this in Australia.

Today is a beautiful sunny day, pitty it wasn’t like this the last few days here, its nearly to nice to go home… Nah perfect flying weather! I decided to open and re pack my suitcases and handbag. I didn’t really make anymore room for the suitcase but more in my handbag so that was a bonus for all the hard work that it is.

Writing in Dr Fedorenko’s card was something I had been delaying as I wasn’t sure how to express my thanks and love for the man. I don’t think there are the right words…. He is just GOD to us!

I had my final shower here early (well 8.30am) as I wasn’t sure when would be a good opportunity. Just as I undressed they came into to give me my shots of course. But they let me shower and came back. Today I had 1 jab in the butt for preventative medicines, and an anti blood clotting agent in my tummy.

Then Joe arrived and he managed to get my suitcase to zip up and we are all ok with our luggage. Probably the only time we will ever have the business class allowance but not the space to fit it all lol. While I ate my breaky we skyped the kids and omg Bianca was adorable, we saw her in her winter uniform for the first time and she was so happy to talk to us and excited we were coming home and so were we! Dominic on the other hand… didn’t give us much as usual. Hopefully its not but it could be the last time we get to talk before arriving home.

Dr Fedorenko came in with my blood results and said he would come back for a departure discussion at 11. He gave me the normal readings and then gave me the best news… he said my Lymphocytes were ablated to the lowest they could so we got rid of all the autoimmune reactive cells!!! See ya later MS. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! I am coming home MS free!

Hemoglobin = 118

Leukocytes = 20.41 mill

Platelets = 284

Joe and I sat out in the lounge having a conversation with the gorgeous Anastasia about her MS and transplant she had 3 years ago and she told me I am the 126th international patient to be treated by Dr F at Pirogov. I will miss her beautiful smile and infectious happy nature coming in everyday to see if there is anything I need. Thanks sweet lady xx

Then I popped my head into say goodbye to some of the others quickly and I missed James and Kristoffer, but will see James back in adelaide. Then I said goodbye to Lucy. I know I’ve said it before but we have such a connection and we will be forever bonded by this journey together and in a few years time we will catch up a have some fun together MS free! Enjoy your last week and go home to Theo a brand-new women. Love you Lucy xx

Well it was time to have my discussion with Dr Fedorenko. I recorded this information but he has also given me my reports for keeping. Wow what a thorough and detailed explanation of the treatment. I have been given the discharge medications and will now follow up with my hematologist at the RAH, he thanked us for chosing him and coming there, and finished with it is a partnership and we did it! 100% success together!!! I gave him his card and a little thank you tip and we exchanged hugs and I will never forget what he has done for me!!!

Well soon the driver Alexi was there to pick us up and we were on our way. Poor Joe, last night when I checked Emirates, I couldn’t find anything about per bag weight limits. It just keep coming up with 40kg allowance. We did know better I just couldn’t find the info to confirm. Then on the way here my phone brought up the 32kg max weight per bag. We hadn’t checked each piece as we wouldn’t have had 40kg each. We asked Alexi to stop before the airport so we could check. My bag was 30.5 and Joes was 31.5 phew we were both still under JUST! We thought we would have to rearrange things into a plastic shopping bag lol. The airport parking is organised chaos to say the least! We parked and Alexi showed us the way and wow, never been business before, its awesome… no queues, no lines straight through and the lounge is wonderful for Joe, but I cant eat anything as its all buffet! Its a nice place to sit and relax till our flight leaves. A quick viber into mum to say we are on our way.

 

Or so we thought…. We made our way to departure gate and when they scanned our tickets and then security came to tell us there was an issue with our luggage. They had found a banned item in our checked luggage and we would have to sort this out as we got on. WTF? as if I don’t look suspicious enough with my mask, my head covered and sweating like mad now there is an issue with our luggage too? So we get on, get settled and wait til they come and find us to sort it out. All we kept thinking was if they opened the cases, they will lose everything and they will never close them again! So Joe had to go out onto the aero – bridge and they brought up our cases (unopened luckily). He said there were 6 security and the head emirates guy. It was the presents we bought for Paul and David… of course they were repacked right to the bottom of my case this morning too. We had to remove one item and we could keep the rest and Joe was able to make sure it zipped up again. Omg how embarrassing! But they were great about it really.

WOW WHAT LUXURY BUSINESS IS! We are in shock, so lucky to be able to do it, it really is going to make the flight home so much more bearable and I can lie down and rest comfortably. Another bonus is the plane is practically empty! Not too many people to get germs off hehe. We have a 5hr flight to Dubai and then just under a 3 hour layover and will board Dubai to Adelaide at 1am Dubai time. Our next leg is 13hrs arriving home at 8pm Adelaide time Thursday night and get to hug my kiddies!!! So its just about time to say farewell to Moscow. I am so sad to be leaving the safety, peace, calm and healing of Pirogov, I can’t believe it has been 30 days already. I have really enjoyed and relished in the opportunity to take time and focus on myself and rest and relax and get rid of this MS. I am coming home but my MS IS NOT!!!  Excuse the language but fark that feels sooo freaking fantastic!!!  xxx