Even if you do not think there ever will be, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

As I sit here on my couch in Huntington Beach, all I can think about every moment I am awake, and sometimes sleeping, is Australia. Many of you know by now that I have been sick for the past 3 weeks, keeping me from that amazing place everyone has told me about: Australia. For those of you who do not know, at the end of January I became really sick. I was supposed to leave on February 4th, but I was not able to leave. I was in and out of the doctors, and they thought I had the flu that has been going around. I just was not getting better, so I went back to the doctor on February 9th for the third time and he took blood and urine samples. This was when I heard some of the worst news I have heard in a long time. I have mono. The mono is affecting my liver and spleen, which happens sometimes when a person has mono. This frustrating news was nothing I wanted to hear, especially because by that point I was supposed to be half-way across the world calling all my new friends mate and being surrounded by kangaroos. The couch soon became my best friend, never leaving its side. 

After talking to the doctor, my mom and my dad told me that I would not be able to leave until I was able to be up and about for a week and the blood work for my liver improved. My mom called my study abroad advisor and she said the latest I could come to Australia would be February 21st. This meant that I would have to leave by February 19th, which was out of my reach. My parents thought I would not be able to go, and sat me down and told me that I may have to come up with alternative options for this semester. They said things happen for a reason, and that I am lucky I got sick here than in Australia where there would be no one to take care of me. My mom and dad told me that they do not think it is a good idea for me to go now, because if something went wrong there, I would be a 16 hour plane ride away. After hearing that I had mono on February 10th, and then having my parents tell me this a couple days ago, sent disappointment and frustration through my body. Studying abroad in Australia is something I have been looking forward to my whole life. What would I say when I went back to school in August and everyone talked about their adventures, and I just sat there wondering what Australia even looked like? Having a set plan for physical therapy school would be changed, and I would never be able to study abroad if I did not go now. Would I ever be able to see the country I dreamed about my whole life?

The next morning, I woke up to amazing news. Even if you do not think there ever will be, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. My mom had called my advisor and the advisor told my mom that she spoke to the University of Sydney, and they said I have until March 7th to arrive. Even though I would be missing the school's orientation and the first week of classes, they said it would still be okay for me to come this late. They said my housing spot is saved, and signing up for classes would all work itself out. This means I will be able to go to Australia to study abroad in such an amazing place! Now that leaving before March 7th is in my reach, all I can do is continue to get better. I went to the doctor yesterday for blood work on my liver, and if those tests come back positive, I will be on my way before March 7th! Even though I am still extremely tired, I feel a lot better and continue to improve everyday! Yesterday I managed to make chocolate covered strawberries for a late Valentines Day treat, followed by a 2 hour nap. My goal is to leave around March 2nd or 3rd.

My mom has literally changed my flight out four times, and hopefully when I get the results back today about my blood work, it will be the last time! Mono is a horrible sickness that I would not wish on my worst enemy, but I would have not been able to make it through it mentally without my amazing family, friends, and especially my mom, dad, sister, and brother. From the cards that my cousins made to the presents and food that friends brought over, actually did make a difference. THANK YOU! For everyone else that called daily and sent their get well wishes over to the couch, THANK YOU! It really means a lot to me that I have such wonderful people surrounding me.

I am going to keep this blog going while I am in Australia so all of you can read about my adventures. I am planning on updating it a couple times a week, but if something like bungee jumping off a bridge in Sydney or skydiving in New Zealand or even scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef gets in the way, I apologize and will update it when I catch my breath :).

Talk to you soon mate.

Love,

Heidi