This is my sister Susan (aka Pipocas)

There’s the family you’re born into and the family you choose. It started off as kind of a joke, telling the doctors at the private hospital that Susan was my sister so that they would let her visit that first night I was admitted for observation last May. Then we decided to maintain the ruse after I was transferred to Virgen del Rocío hospital for the emergency colon resection. Sometime between then and I’m not sure when, it turned out that we actually were sisters…

Aside from owing her my life (not an exaggeration – if she hadn’t called that afternoon and then immediately taken me to hospital I would have died that night), I feel so grateful for all that Susan has given me. For her friendship, first and foremost. Some of my best memories are now of the two of us talking and laughing – there always seems to be a lot of laughing going on when we get together. For the countless hospital visits and doctor’s appointments made bearable by her company. For all those lunches and making feel truly spoiled and cared for. And the trips! For the road trip last October that was her gift to me. For very generously paying for all our meals on the Morocco trip, as well as the expenses incurred after we got stranded. For helping me keep focused with my plans for the future. For always being supportive. And for believing in me when I was down, which gave me the courage to start believing in myself again.

Thanks, Sis, for everything.