Two Very Different Ferry Boat Rides

One year ago, when I snapped this photo of Cholita and her dad, my emotions were so close to the surface. We were on our way to Seattle for Cholita's first PEG interferon shot. The odds of success were so low and we knew she'd feel sick. She was in such a great mood that morning, so trusting and happy, that I almost called the whole thing off right then and there.

Cholita asked if she could use my camera and not surprisingly, she zoomed down on her feisty red shoes, making us laugh. If anyone could beat the odds, this was the girl to do it.

Today, almost exactly a year later, we were once again on the ferry boat. Once again we were going to see her doctor. And like a year ago, my emotions were close to the surface; this time for a very different reason. She'd finished her treatment, with courage and bravery, and just last week we'd learned the final result. It worked. She beat the odds.

When the doctor walked into the room today, she threw her clipboard down on the exam table and DANCED! I asked her if she was surprised and she said that 'surprised' didn't even begin to describe her feelings when she saw Cholita's labs. "Completely stunned."

As we were leaving, she said, "You have a truly amazing little girl."

We've always known it.