There's No Place Like Home!

I am so very thrilled to report that we are home!  It was an amazing day, one that we will never forget.  Last night Steve finally had a good night's sleep.  He attributed that to not having the trach tube anymore.  Whatever it was, he slept well and because of that, so did I.  We woke up feeling rested and excited but nervous.  We knew Steve was ready to go home but it was all up to Dr. Hanpeter.  I found myself feeling a little intimidated by Dr. Hanpeter just because he is so smart which made me feel a little stupid as I clumsily fumbled my words around him.  But I finally got up the guts to ask him if I could take a picture and I was pleasantly surprised that he was more than happy to oblige.  What a good dude!



After Dr. Hanpeter confirmed that Steven could go home, I made some notifications and many of Steve's friends came to the hospital to help transport him home.  Steve Wills, Steve's old partner in C Team has been there for us every step of this journey:

 
And then there was Arcos.  Lt. Bob Arcos, well what can I say?  He's a great human being with a huge heart.  He's Steve's boss but so much more than that and I am honored to call him our friend.  Thanks Bob:

Linda Travis and Dave Wade came to finish what they started.  They were part of the team that fateful night and they were with Steve every single step of the way.  They came to personally see to it that Steve finally made it home.  How humbling for me to see the bond that this team will always share:

Just before leaving the 7th Floor ICU, aka 7 West, Steve took one last walk down the hall to say his goodbyes.  We had become so close to these amazing people and it was bittersweet leaving them all behind:

Linda, Dave, Steve's nurse, Jane, and I trailed behind as Steve Wills pushed Steve in the wheelchair down to the lobby where we were met by all of the handlers who were with Steve the night he was shot.  Cliff Chu and Jason Schwab also joined in the lobby to greet Steve.  From left to right they are:  Lt. Bob Arcos, Ofcr. Cliff Chu, Ofcr. Linda Travis, Sgt. Miles Taylor, Ofcr. Dave Wade, Ofcr. Jason Schwab, Ofcr. Josh Kniss and of course Steve in front.  I can't say enough about this extraordinary group of police officers who will forever be my friends.  To Steve they are so much more than that.  They are his brothers and sister:

I was so very moved watching some of the people sitting in the lobby as Steve was brought through in the wheelchair.  When the handlers surrounded him and then posed for this picture, I was struck by a middle aged lady sitting with her family.  She and her family stood to watch what was happening and as Steve passed by, she brought her hands to her face and the tears in her eyes said it all.  This police officer, this man who had sacrificed so much, was going home.

We exited the lobby doors, Steve waived goodbye and gave a thumbs up, and we boarded the suburban (courtesy of LAPD's SWAT unit) to go home.  After almost three weeks in the hospital, Steven was finally going home.