A Salad for Snail!

It has been a long couple of weeks since I have updated Team Snail, first of all Valerie is doing great and progressing towards her full recovery every day. Her doctors are thrilled with her progress and even let her have a salad last week! As you can see I did not post a picture of a snail with a salad, you don't even want to Google that! For anyone who knows how Valerie ate before you know that the almost vegetarian has had a hard time on a neutropenic diet with no fresh produce allowed. This leafy treat certainly lifted her spirits!

A short time ago I reported the great news that our little Snail was able to walk 4 blocks and then 1/2 a mile and now... 2 hours straight! Valerie is regaining her strength and soon will be bike riding again as soon as we are sure her balance is up to snuff!
In less than 3 weeks Valerie will be off of the steroids she was put on for her body's outspoken opinion about the other trillion drugs she was on and then finally the anti-rejection drugs will start to be tapered off.
Vanessa will be traveling to see Valerie for their 28th Birthday on Wednesday! The girls have never spent their birthday apart and this year will be no exception since obviously this birthday is even more special than usual!

Vanessa and I have been to see Valerie at least once in recent weeks sometimes for a visit and unfortunately this last time for our paternal Grandmother's memorial service. Valerie was given permission to go to the service and I am so grateful that we were all there. Our Uncle Wes wrote a beautiful summary of her life and delivered a similar version at the service. He did a wonderful job and we are grateful for his many gifts, only one of which is public speaking. In a strange way it was good to see family and old friends and we are looking forward to spending more time with our cousins next month when we spend a few days celebrating the life our grandparents made with photographs and souvenirs that have been so careful preserved for us.

Congratulations Snail!!!!

Congratulations to our little Snail for surviving the first 100 days after a stem cell transplant! It is only up from here!
We have received the results of Valerie's 100 day bone marrow biopsy and .... drum roll please...
the results are "FABULOUS!!!!"
There is NO sign of leukemia and significant bone marrow growth!
I know I don't have to tell Team Snail how amazing these results are! Of course we are guessing that the growth is Vanessa's hot pink stilettos since it is identical it is hard to tell but all signs point to that. Valerie has not had any transfusions, complications or hospital stays since she left the hospital in December and that alone is a huge miracle!
The next step will be to continue tapering off the steroids and as soon as that is complete we can taper off the anti-rejection meds.
Slow and steady wins the race, especially for a Snail!

Congratulations and Thank You to Valerie's dear friend, Danielle who won the Sassy Apron auction! Thank you to Sassy Apron for the extremely generous donation of her artwork!

Almost 100 days!!!

Team Snail we have almost made it to the 100 day birthday for our Valerie! Valerie had her 100 day bone marrow biopsy last week and we should have the results by her 100th day. This biopsy is one of the most important. It tells us how well the transplant is working, how many good cells and double checks that there are no bad cells. News as soon as we hear....

Don't forget that her 100th birthday is also the end of our Sassy Apron auction! Click here

Starbucks for the Snail!

Our little Snail had a amazing day today!
Her numbers have been a little jumpy lately which had us a little worried but her doctors assure us it is normal! Just another side effect of a med or normal course for the transplant. Her doctors answered her list of questions and made her feel so much better! How many people can say that? Thank you again to the entire UCSD team, you continue to be amazing!

Probably the most exciting news is that Valerie's doctors told her to go sit on the patio at Starbucks and have her favorite White Chocolate Mocha!!!!! This is amazing, the first outside food and sitting in public! Don't worry to all the protective Mom's out there, my Dad watched very carefully as Valerie's drink was made and the people at Starbucks did not disappoint.
Along with her new "prescription" the doctors told Valerie to walk as much as she can and get out more! Of course within reason, imagine a snail again. Slow and steady so she is working up to walking a 1/2 mile and going out really means walking on the beach not going dancing just yet.
So, Dad and Snail wasted no time and headed to the beach for a picnic. The most amazing part was the hoppy birds and hummingbirds (Valerie's favorites!) came to the picnic. Behind them in a bush was a very fat and happy prego hoppy bird and then a bunch of the most gorgeous hummingbirds that followed them wherever they went. The hummingbirds were the most amazing colors that Dad and Valerie had never seen and so uplifting.

Mom will be back in San Diego for a visit on Saturday, I will be there Thursday and Vanessa the weekend after me so we will have lots to report to Team Snail.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Team Snail loves you!

Sassy Snail!

Remember this fabulous Sassy Apron I got for Valerie's upcoming birthday?

Well the creative genius behind these little numbers has given us an apron to auction off for Team Snail! She was touched so much by the love that Team Snail has for our little Valerie and in honor of her cousin, wanted to help. Sassy Apron will make any apron style that you like, in any pattern and in your size!

Keep in mind, Mother's Day will be here before we know it!

Here is how to bid:
Just make a comment on the blog of the amount that you would like to bid and that way everyone can see what the amount is up to. For my email list, if you would love to bid but just can't get to the blog, please email me and I will update it for you.

The last day to bid will be 11:59pm March 3rd!!! Why March 3rd?! That is the Snail's 100th day birthday!

Please keep in mind that these aprons retail between $20-$35 depending on the style.
Visit Sassy Apron on Etsy here to see the amazing designs from kitchen to gardening aprons.

Go Snail Go!

The doctors have given Snail the go ahead to start exercising! Before all of this mess Valerie worked out 5 days a week and Brent and her have every hobby that is outside so this is very exciting news! Keep in mind this is in Snail speed so first she has to start walking (as much as her feet with let her) and her doctor suggested Yoga.
Another wonderful praise is that Valerie has not had to get an infusion of ANYTHING in a month! Her body is making everything it needs and her supplements are filling in when she needs a bit extra. Her numbers continue to come up where they should and the bad ones are going down every day.
Keep praying Team Snail! It is working miracles everyday!