Tag: Pleasanton

May 16, 2018

~ Campjustin ~ Leave a comment

I went back home today.

Okay… so I’m not supposed to. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. The doctor’s specifically told me “Don’t go back home!” But I did anyways.

I’m not a rebel trying to break the rules or anything. I just want to go back home.

You read how miserable I was in the hospital. Now they want me to stay in a nearby housing facility for 3 months? No way.

When I was in the hospital in December, a doctor told me, “You heal faster at home.” He’s right. At home you’re more comfortable, so you automatically feel better.

After everything, I just want to find some comfort. I just want to snuggle in bed (although those hot & cold sensations might not allow) and watch some YouTube on my phone.

The reason I’m not supposed to go home is that in case of an emergency, I have to be close to the hospital. It’s been a day since I was discharged from the hospital, so maybe I should’ve waited a day or two. If there’s a time to have an emergency, it would be now.

ANYWAYS, I had no emergency today. At home, I snuggled and watched YouTube. I loved it. I don’t want to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, I want to stay at my house.

We went back to the Ronald McDonald House at night. My Mom took care of some stuff, and I grabbed some clothes.

May 19, 2018

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I went to the hospital prom today.

The hospital prom is more of a “get together”. It’s way more PG than a High School prom.

The hospital school hosts the hospital prom. I’ve been going to the hospital school for the past month to do all my school make up work. They invited me, so might as well go.

The hospital prom was good. I can’t believe the 4 teachers from the hospital school organized this.

The outside of the cafeteria was decorated to create a jungle theme. We were given goodie bags when we entered and we used a sharpie to write our names in them. Inside the goodie bags were little toys.

There were snacks: sandwiches, chips, skewered chicken, jello, popcorn, and salad. There were also a lot of games: hoop toss, miniature basketball, the price is right, and many more. There was a DJ inside and a ukulele band inside.

They had a mini casino. There was blackjack, roulette, and poker. We had no idea how to play so we just watched.

The doctors also introduced me to another person from Pleasanton: an 8th grader who also had a heart transplant.

May 26, 2018

~ Campjustin ~ 1 Comment

My Dad visited me for the first time at the Ronald McDonald House today. The Ronald McDonald house is a housing facility near the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. I have to stay here 3 months before I can go back home. Unfortunately, I can’t spend the day with him because Ray is visiting me today.

Ray is coming here today. I know this isn’t easy for him because Palo Alto is 40 minutes away from Pleasanton and this week at school is finals week.

Ray is great friend. He’s supported me when I missed tons of school. I texted him the day of my heart transplant (April 27, 2018). He wanted to visit me in the hospital, but I told him no because I was feeling awful (May 4, 2018). Now that I’m out of the hospital I’m better.

There’s a mall across the Ronald McDonald House. Today is my first day exploring that The Stanford Mall. The Stanford Mall is also an outdoor mall so I have to be careful and stay in the shade. After transplant, I’m more vulnerable to skin cancer.

Palo Alto is a rich city. Actually, any city in Silicon Valley is a rich city. I expect everything at the Stanford Mall to be super expensive considering: it’s in Palo Alto & it’s in Stanford. Turns out all of the prices were the same as my own hometown, Pleasanton.

My FitBit told me I walked 10,000 steps today. Woah.

In the hospital I could barely walk 10 feet without taking a break. The reason is my heart goes crazy whenever take a step. While walking and talking with Ray, I must’ve ignored my heart. That’s awesome!

I’m not even a month after my heart transplant, and I walked 10,000 steps!

When Ray left, my Dad and I went to Downtown Palo Alto to eat.

This is also my first time exploring Downtown Palo Alto. Downtown Palo Alto is a lot nicer than Downtown Pleasanton.

At Downtown Palo Alto I ate dinner with dad at ramen restaurant. Sushi used to be my favorite food, but I’m not allowed to eat raw food. Forever.

After eating, my heart pounding decided to show up. For a good 40 minutes after eating my heart was beating out of my chest. I didn’t want to stand up or walk. I hate my heart pounding.

May 27, 2018

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My Mom and I went home today.

We’re not supposed to go home. The doctors told me to always stay at the Ronald McDonald House because in case of an emergency, I need to be close to the hospital.

The thing is… I really hate the hospital and would feel way better at home. We’re not staying overnight! Only visiting. I don’t want to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, I want to stay at home. Home is where I want to be.

At home I stayed in my bed and watched TV. Now that’s comfortable. Although my hot and cold sensations might not be that comfortable (hot and cold = when I change sensations really fast).

For dinner I ate so much that my G-tube (Google it) started to hurt. If I stop using it for 6 months, I can permanently get it out.

At 10 PM, I had to leave and go back to the Ronald McDonald House. I wish I could stay at home forever.

July 4, 2018

~ Campjustin ~ 1 Comment

Today is the Fourth of July. Since I’m staying at the Ronald McDonald House, and not at my house in Pleasanton, we don’t really know what to do. I searched the internet, and I found that there’s a fireworks show at Seaport Boulevard in Redwood City.

Redwood City is nearby Palo Alto, the home of Stanford University. Seaport Boulevard is a boulevard that’s near the water, and there’s a private yacht dock along the boulevard.

My Mom drove me to Seaport Boulevard, but then she saw how wheelchair accessible the boulevard was, so she drove back to the Ronald McDonald House to get our grandma. Our grandma also needs special care, so she stays with us at the Ronald McDonald House.

We got takeout food in Downtown Palo Alto from Jing-Jing Szechwan & Hunan Gourmet. I first tasted Jing-Jing in the hospital after transplant. I didn’t have much of an appetite, but I wanted some noodles, so a nurse suggested Jing-Jing since they had great noodles. The hospital food was great, but after awhile it gets boring.

After we got takeout, we went to Seaport Boulevard with grandma. By the time we got there, the fireworks already started and all the cars were jammed. We decided to park outside, and watch the fireworks from the sidewalk. It was a great day.

July 26, 2018

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It’s weird being back at home. Being at the hospital sucked, but somehow I have nostalgia about it.

For one, I have my own room. I’m glad to have my own place to sleep and scroll through my room. Secondly, there’s no people around. At the Ronald McDonald House there were always people around in the kitchen or TV room. Thirdly, I have nothing to do. Unlike the Ronald McDonald House, Pleasanton’s downtown or mall isn’t walking distance away. Instead I just play games on my phone or watch The Office.

November 9, 2018

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Pleasanton is really smoky today. There’s a wildfire 2 hours away, and as a result the air is filled with smoke. It’s so polluted you can’t see the sun.

When my dad stepped outside today, he said “Is this air quality okay for Justin?” My mom asked me if I wanted to go to school today. I told her I wanted to, but I said I would wear a mask.

When I was staying at the Ronald McDonald House I had therapy sessions with a psychologist, WIth my therapist we discussed about wearing a mask. I told her I didn’t want to wear a mask, since it made me stick out in school. However, I know that i definitely should wear my mask today.

When I got to my class, my classmate told me she didn’t expect me to be at school today. She said that since the air was so bad, I would’ve stayed at home.