Chemo Grad Snail

Never Again!

-2 days until a new Snail

This is Valerie ringing the bell to celebrate her radiation completion! This is a tradition that we thought was very appropriate and signals a round of applause and cheers from everyone within ear shot of the bell.
Valerie has since completed 1/2 of her chemo and as I type is finishing her last bag. Tomorrow is a day of rest, much deserved after this crazy week. Tomorrow, Vanessa will also start the apheresis which will last for 6 hours Monday and 6 hours Tuesday. Vanessa has been having bone pain like Valerie did with the neupogen shots but is taking it like a champ. Of course, Valerie is worried about Vanessa in true Valerie form. -2 days left!
This website had a pretty good simple description of the process if you would like to read it. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bone-marrow/MY00525

A message from Momma Snail

The last couple of days have been so full of emotion I wanted to send a post from Momma Snail;

As Michelle has already explained Valerie was delayed in getting her room at UCSD and had to start her radiation treatments as an out patient. So when she finally was admitted around noon the next day she was pretty beat up emotionally and tired from the first all body radiation. She had a hard time forcing herself to walk into the hospital knowing it was the last "outside and fresh air" for at least a month. It tore our hearts out to watch her pull every bit of toughness (fangs out) and make herself go in to fight the biggest battle yet. She did it with her head held high in true Snail Snail fashion! It was the right room however with a big tree just outside her window that is full of honey bees and humming birds (her favorite) for her to see and a west view so she can see every sunset! Just as she got settled into her new room was just in time to be rushed off for her next radiation treatment. These treatments played a hard toll on her late day yesterday and she had a hard time, but thankfully by morning they had her meds figured out and she was feeling ok. Today she started at 8 am with radiation, then surgery to implant her new "port line" in her chest at 1:00 just out of recovery she was taken back to radiation at 3:00 finally at 4:30 when she returned she settled in and could rest. The old stand by mac and cheese (rice noodles of course) worked again being the first thing she was able to eat in 20 hours followed by fruit snacks and a couple M&M's and she was "so full"! We then had to tear ourselves away to return to my place to start Vanessa's shots, she looked into my eyes and said "but Mommy I hardly saw you today", I told her, no honey I was here looking at the back of doors waiting for you to be given back to us. I delayed as long as I could (they have a timed schedule on when Vanessa has to take shots and they cant come to hospital because they are "out patient"). Just as we started to leave I was telling her Brent was due to be here any minute and she said are you sure is he coming soon, low and behold he walked in the door focused right on her eyes and said, "Hi sweetheart, how are you doin'", feeewwww great timing Brent!!!!! So we left knowing she was happy. She had a heck of a hard day! Vanessa had her first two shots tonight and she said they were "very painful", again showing us how brave Valerie has been having many of them already. Vanessa is getting lots of rest and trying to be as strong going into this process as possible. She is waiting for her hubby to arrive at midnight tonight! He is coming to stand by her and support her through this scary week. GayLynn has been my rock since Sunday, putting up with tears and lack of patience (I am wearing pretty thin), she has been cooking, cleaning, giving shots!!!!! and being as terrific as always for Valerie and Vanessa and of course, (thank God), being my big sister!!!!!!!!!! The typical schedule is counted in negative days prior to transplant and positive days after transplant with the transplant day being day 0 and often called her second birthday. Valerie is at -4 tomorrow, one more day of radiation then two days of chemo followed by one day of rest prior to transplant. When all goes as planned Vanessa donates Monday and Tuesday and Valerie gets transplant Tuesday!!!!! Live transplants are traditionally more successful so we are on the right path to success for both girls and "100% healing for forever" for Valerie. Please remember to pray for her everyday but also and especially for Valerie for Tuesday and Vanessa for Monday and Tuesday that everything goes as planned, smoothly without complications!!!!!!!! WE are believing for a miracle!!!!!!! Valerie continues to empress me everyday (I see so much of my Daddy in her her fangs must be German), but the last two days she was amazing!!!!!! She is my hero today and every day for the rest of my life! Fighting on..... Momma Snail 11-19-09

Finally a Place for Snail

So many things to talk about...
First, Wednesday the 18th-
Valerie went into the hospital for her first radiation treatment at 8 am which from what I can gather takes about an hour. If you can believe it even after this there was still no room so they went back to my Mom's apartment which was chosen because it is 4 minutes from the hospital. Soon they received a phone call that Valerie's room would be ready for her at 12 noon. God's timing yes, she has a great room at the end of the hall so she only has a neighbor on one side and her room faces west for beautiful sunset views and trees for her to look at. My Aunt GayLynn and Vanessa went to a meeting with our transplant coordinator Ursula to review shot giving technique and pick up the magic shots that will boost up Vanessa's WBC's so she has plenty for Valerie. At 3pm Valerie had another radiation round and by 6:30pm was really sick. Thankfully she is in the hospital now where they can control this and by the morning she was better.

Thursday the 19th-
Today was a busy day again of course. Valerie was not able to eat anything all day until 4pm after all of her treatments. She had radiation at 8am and had another line put in for her transplant at 1 and radiation at 3 so food finally at 4. The new line is bigger so that there is no squishing of stem cells! I was able to talk to her today and honestly her voice sounded good. I know she is feeling awful and today was scary but we are moving along. 2 more radiation treatments to go and 4 days until transplant.
Vanessa's first shots were today and of course fashionable accessorized by Hello Kitty Band-Aids. She said they feel like if you were pouring tequila on an open wound but well worth it of course. Her husband JP arrives late tonight to support her on her side of the transplant on Monday and Tuesday.

Gluten-Free
It is shocking sometimes when something so normal to us is not available. This is the 2nd hospital that does not have a gluten free menu. Shocking because gluten intolerance, allergy or Celiac is 1 out of every 120 people now. The transplant center normally has very strict rules about outside food but for Valerie there has to be some exceptions. There is a freezer/fridge on the floor that they can use which is a huge help and after meeting with the hospitals dietitian they are actually going to order in GF food for Valerie. Yeah, another hurdle down!

A message from Auntie Shrew

After much preparation yesterday and two trips to favorite spots on the shore, we were all ready to spend the morning waiting for the phone call from the hospital telling Valerie to "come on down". The waiting was stressful, especially as it stretched on and on. We drove to In and Out and Taco Bell for lunch requests, then waited some more. We went out again for frozen yogurt and another visit to Snail Beach to watch the sunset. There were several great dogs romping and playing together including a beautiful Great Dane 16 month old "puppy", a snuffley Bull Dog and a playful Golden Retriever. They were friendly and we all loved petting them especially Valerie. She will not be allowed around dogs for up to a year after the transplant. Her new immune system will be very immature at first. She will need to be very careful as she "grows up". The sunset was gorgeous complete with a crane flying off into the setting sun. We all laughed when we heard it honking. Such a graceful, elegant bird but such a horrible sound. We returned to Sherry's condo (command central) and waited some more. So we watched The Proposal. After several phone calls it was decided that if she wasn't called by 9pm she would be admitted tomorrow morning after her first round of radiation. Craig went to a pharmacy to pick up medicines she needs to take in preparation for radiation. Valerie and Vanessa went back to her apartment for one more night. It's 10:30pm now and we are all going to bed. This was a very long emotional day. Valerie is strong and she trusts in God's timing. She is such an inspiration. So sweet restful sleep to our tough little snail. God's continued blessings to her and all of Team Snail.

Tick Tock, Sign Here, Poke Here, Tick Tock Snail

Hello Team Snail!

The last week has been filled with a lot of waiting, paperwork, meetings and more tests. The short version and great news is that Vanessa will officially be Valerie's match! All T's are crossed and I's are dotted. Vanessa is such a perfect match that she too has not had a virus that 99.5% of the population has had. This means Valerie will not get it from Vanessa's cells right when her immune system is non-existent. And now we wait.
Valerie and Brent have a "normal" weekend planned with a date and everything (good job Doodle). Valerie is trying to feel as normal as possible before she checks into the hospital on the 17th again. The 18th is the day to remember our little snail more than ever and pray until after Thanksgiving and then pray some more. The 18th starts the irradiation, mega chemo and then finally transplant process. After the transplant Valerie will be in the hospital between 4 and 6 weeks. 2010 is sounding great to me!
My Aunt GayLynn is flying out to SD on the 15th to help the local team with the transition back to the hospital and the transplant itself. She has a lot of experience in hospitals and is such a helpful, calm, force to be reckoned with, I can't wait til she gets there.
Yeah Brent! The HUGE case that he and his firm has been working on for 3 years or so they won on Thursday! That means regular work days and not the crazy 16 hour days he has been working. Happier Doodle and Happier Snail!
Mom has been cooking away for the local Team Snail. I am sure they have all gained 10 pounds and I know I have lost 10 since she left! She has also been trying to cheer everyone up by decorating a little for Christmas.

Social Snail

Before Valerie returns to the hospital she had a few visitors yesterday. Her dear friend Lara flew down from San Francisco again to visit her snail. Melissa, Lara and Kristy had a great day of my Mom's food, girl talk and the healing power of laughter.

My care package arrived including the Snail bracelets.( Mom is just being careful with a mask on since she was sick last week.)