Playful Sally

Oh sorry, you wanted to see the gifts I’m playing with

Video chat before bed

Playful, but tires easy

Hi all – that’s how Nicole just described Sally’s day today, a happy day. She slept like a rock last night, literally, she was out cold the entire night and had the best sleep in probably weeks. This must have helped her body repair itself some and given her a lot of energy today. First off, the PI she was suffering from looks to have cleared up on its own, a huge relief as it was causing her pain and shortness of breath. Second, her counts are starting to rise, doctors think she may even get to come home this weekend! We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed that she keeps improving and that we can figure out what meds she’ll need for pain that we can give orally at home.

Sally had a very busy day with a ton of visitors. A Fellow who was on rounds last month came by just to visit Sally as she missed her. Two cleaning staff dropped by and gave Sally gifts, which being in a good mood she obliged them by enjoying and playing with the toys. Some of Sally’s favorite nurses visited, even getting their hands slapped for spending too much time with her. Finally Dr. Tom came by and spent 30 minutes answering questions for Nicole about her upcoming treatment, which will be intense but hopefully mostly out-patient from here out. When telling him about Sally’s MSK visitors, he said that she has a huge fan club at the hospital, more than we know of or can imagine.

On a sad note our roommate the first week of this current stay, Cannon, who is suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma and is back home in Orlando, is not doing well. He’s admitted down at his hospital and his health is deteriorating. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, they’re really needed right now. You get to know these families well as you’re experiencing something so intense and scary together and you form a bond as only they truly understand what you’re going through. Cannon is like family, he has been on our minds constantly, especially today. Nicole and I are very worried about him and his family.

Some Buffalo friends (I’m from Buffalo) have put together a campaign to raise awareness for Sally and funds for her treatment by selling shirts. You can read about it in this blog post and see how to order them. Reading this I became overwhelmed at all of this generosity from my fellow Buffalo sports fans and couldn’t contain tears at my desk today: http://www.deargodwhyussports.com/2/post/2013/08/supportsally.html

Thomas, William and I got to video chat with Nicole and Sally, who was her playful self. I included a screen grab, although at this point William was sad, he misses Mommy and Sally. Hopefully we’ll have her home this weekend in time for Thomas’ birthday on Monday and can celebrate as a family.

Please keep Sally in your thoughts and prayers.

Matt