Hello everyone!

I hope you are all staying cool in this furnace we call summer!
May was a packed month. On the 17th, Lou and I drove to Staunton, VA, so I could participate in the graduation ceremony the next day. The evening of the 17th, the president of the University hosted a meet and greet for the graduates.
After most of the people left, Lou and I wanted to say thanks and bye to President Stein. We got to talking, and he asked some questions about the transplant process. Of course, I am very open about my journey, so I shared a bit. After we finished, he pulled out this pin:

He explained its significance. He says it represents the four schools, it has the school motto, the center contains the school’s crest and the squirrel (mascot). It also has the four directions much like a compass. He also said that the President is the only one able to give these out. He said very few have been handed out. But hearing my story, he said that I exemplify everything Mary Baldwin stands for, and handed me this pin. He asked that I wear it during commencement the next day. I wore it proudly!
Rain was expected for that weekend, but both the graduate and undergraduate ceremonies went off without any rain. On Sunday, the 18th, I was able to walk to the podium and get my placeholder.

The actual diploma was to be mailed and would arrive about 3 weeks later (this is a whole other story!). After the ceremony, Lou and I had to bolt quickly north, as I had appointments the next day in Cleveland.

For the most part, the appointments went off without a hitch, although I do meet with an allergist and neurologist next week (low IgG and new numbness in my left pinky). I have also half way through my lympedema treatments. Not sure what will happen after the treatments are over, as I still have pitting edema (caused by stagnant lymph fluid, not water). We are trying to get the insurance to pay for an at-home lymphedema garment. We shall see how that goes!
Thank you all for following my journey!