Happy miracle 28th Birthday to our little Snail! Since this birthday was even more special than usual our Dad hatched a plan to surprise Valerie with a few of her favorite things.
As you know Valerie is still on a neutropenic diet which restricts a lot of things including Valerie's favorite frozen yogurt from
Bogart Yogurt. Practically torture for a small Snail not to have her favorite treat but Dad's planning skills went into overdrive. After contacting the owner, he found out that Bogart Yogurt tastes amazing because they use high quality ingredients and they CLEAN their machines every day! This might seem obvious but it is not the norm in yogurt world and this is what causes the scare for people with low immune systems. Valerie's doctors approved the treat from this sanitary heaven and the owner told my Dad that she would be happy to open early just for Valerie and Vanessa to come in for their birthday. Then she went one step further and made Valerie's favorite flavor as an extra treat. Strawberry frozen yogurt for all at 10:30am! Thank you, Thank you Bogart Yogurt, you will always be a Team Snail and family tradition!
Now on to the main event! When Valerie was a tiny little girl she loved nothing more than to go fast! Times have not changed and this lady loves beautiful crazy fast Italian cars! In La Jolla there is the most amazing showroom with the best cars in the world including a Bugatti which is about a million dollars and has 1001 horsepower. Every time we past this dealership Valerie strains her neck to see the cars in the window so again Dad had an idea. Symbolic Motor Car Company is San Diego County’s only factory authorized sales dealership and service center for Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Lotus, and Rolls Royce automobiles. A La Jolla institution since 1985, Symbolic Motor Car Company is a worldwide sales leader in legendary classic, historic, and competition race cars. Where else would you go for our little Snail! Dad contacted Ryan Dohogne the General Manager who was more than gracious to have Valerie and Vanessa come in for their birthday. When they got there Ryan greeted them and had made arrangements for Rick Ahumada, Director of Marketing, to spend some time with the girls. Rick gave them the complete tour including the Bentley's, Bugatti, the previously owned collections including a Ferrari, Porsche Carrera GT and a Ford GT among other fabulous cars. Rick spent the most and the greatest time with Valerie in the Lamborghini area, her favorite cars. Valerie and Vanessa were invited to sit in various cars and were taught all sorts of details that even a car fanatic like Valerie did not know about. This showroom has amazing cars and quite frankly, they are works of art, if you are ever in the market for a car like this we would highly recommend them. However, the cars are not the only thing that makes them special, Rick spent over an hour and a half with Valerie and Vanessa on the last day of the month! For anyone who has been in sales you know what that means and yet Rick went through each car in great detail and made our Team Snail feel as though they were the most important people in the world on that very special day. Valerie told me it was the most fun she can remember having and called it "The
Other Happiest Place On Earth". It is always an emotional experience when Valerie can do something new or more than before but for this day, these people made it a wonderful day she will never ever forget.
The Bugatti
Valerie said her favorites of the day were the red and the orange one.
(she knew I had no idea of the names)
The favorite!
Vanessa in the favorite car
Ford GT and the new "Eleanor" from Gone in 60 Seconds. My Dad was DROOLING!
Valerie's new hat that Rick and Ryan gave her.
After all the excitement they went for a picnic complete with a great view, spring flowers and yes, their hummingbird friend that always seems to meet them.
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Our little Snail has returned to the work force, well at least a little! Thanks to modern technology Valerie is able to work from home a couple hours a day. I know she loves being able to get back to it at least a bit and I am sure American Specialty Health missed her! What an amazing company to support her for the past 10 months!
Just a quick update to let you know the Snail has defied the odds once again!
Today marks 6 months since Valerie's transplant and I know the thoughts that go through your head. Shouldn't she be ok by now? Logically it seems that after the transplant, after the leukemia is gone, the person should just bounce back. Valerie is the toughest, bravest person I know and I am so proud of her. If I could make all of the side effects and rebuilding her body must do just go away I would. Nothing is harder than watching her suffer. Since she was a baby we have joked that she was little but mighty, she has shown us that in bundles this time. Please don't forget to send a card, stop by or give her a call. It has been almost 9 months since she has been away from her life and that would be hard on anyone.
The baby hummingbirds have hatched! The hummingbird family in Valerie's courtyard bring her such joy and the babies have brightened her days.
The Proud Mama
If anyone is in the area give Snail a call and see if you can stop by. She is accepting visitors as long as you or people around you have not been sick. She loves to entertain more than ever and friends and family stopping by break up the day for her. Who knows maybe you will get lucky and have her make a little treat for you?!
Valerie had her routine doctors appointment and the doctor told her she could go down to once a week lab appointments!!!! There's more, she can eat whatever fruits and vegetables she wants as long as she prepares them and preferably things that can be peeled. But wait there's more... she can go out to Starbucks (friends that is a hint), the grocery store and even a movie at non peak times!!! This was so unexpected and truly raised her spirits. Dad took her to Bristol Farms to pick out her own groceries and she got tons of produce!
Valerie and Vanessa went to baking for Easter and Spring celebrations!
Cookies for the staff at the doctors offices and hospitals. 
Now on to the main event! When Valerie was a tiny little girl she loved nothing more than to go fast! Times have not changed and this lady loves beautiful crazy fast Italian cars! In La Jolla there is the most amazing showroom with the best cars in the world including a Bugatti which is about a million dollars and has 1001 horsepower. Every time we past this dealership Valerie strains her neck to see the cars in the window so again Dad had an idea. Symbolic Motor Car Company is San Diego County’s only factory authorized sales dealership and service center for Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Lotus, and Rolls Royce automobiles. A La Jolla institution since 1985, Symbolic Motor Car Company is a worldwide sales leader in legendary classic, historic, and competition race cars. Where else would you go for our little Snail! Dad contacted Ryan Dohogne the General Manager who was more than gracious to have Valerie and Vanessa come in for their birthday. When they got there Ryan greeted them and had made arrangements for Rick Ahumada, Director of Marketing, to spend some time with the girls. Rick gave them the complete tour including the Bentley's, Bugatti, the previously owned collections including a Ferrari, Porsche Carrera GT and a Ford GT among other fabulous cars. Rick spent the most and the greatest time with Valerie in the Lamborghini area, her favorite cars. Valerie and Vanessa were invited to sit in various cars and were taught all sorts of details that even a car fanatic like Valerie did not know about. This showroom has amazing cars and quite frankly, they are works of art, if you are ever in the market for a car like this we would highly recommend them. However, the cars are not the only thing that makes them special, Rick spent over an hour and a half with Valerie and Vanessa on the last day of the month! For anyone who has been in sales you know what that means and yet Rick went through each car in great detail and made our Team Snail feel as though they were the most important people in the world on that very special day. Valerie told me it was the most fun she can remember having and called it "The Other Happiest Place On Earth". It is always an emotional experience when Valerie can do something new or more than before but for this day, these people made it a wonderful day she will never ever forget.
The Bugatti
Valerie said her favorites of the day were the red and the orange one. 
The favorite!
Vanessa in the favorite car
Ford GT and the new "Eleanor" from Gone in 60 Seconds. My Dad was DROOLING!
Valerie's new hat that Rick and Ryan gave her.
After all the excitement they went for a picnic complete with a great view, spring flowers and yes, their hummingbird friend that always seems to meet them.
Valerie made Vanessa a Peep birthday cake.jpg)
