Hi all – Our day started early. Nicole and I got to bed after midnight last night, I had anxiety sleep so woke up every 20 minutes. Nicole got me up just after 4am as Sally was awake and we couldn’t feed her to put her back to bed since she was having surgery this morning. I held her for an hour til Nicole could get ready and they headed off to MSK. That said, Nicole and I are exhausted. I was at the hospital tonight to see our birthday girl, but feel bad as I was so tired I was babbling and mixing words talking to all the parents and nurses. They probably thought I was drunk. Or just stupid. So to save you all from this, I’m just gonna use pictures to describe the day.

Sally went into surgery at 7:30 or so, I received a text from Nicole at 9:30 that she was out of surgery, it went well, and she was in recovery:3333

Adrienne, one of our primary nurses was aware of Sally being checked in and that it was her birthday, so decorated the room for her:

When I arrived, Dr. Steinherz (head of the Leukemia Team) walked in and stood next to Sally’s crib and peacefully gazed at her sleeping. Before leaving he left a toy flower next to her for her birthday:

My mother in law (Sally Sr.) brought the kids in to see their sister, so I decided to head over the hospital as well. Adrienne put Sally in a room that wasn’t expecting a patient that night, so we were allowed to bring the boys in. We ate pizza and took turns comforting Sally, who was in a lot of pain.

Then the cake arrived, baked by a baker who specializes in top end cakes. She donates these incredible cakes to kids with cancer, Sally’s being an owl. At home Sally has a big owl on her wall in her bedroom, and an owl blanket, asn

Seriously, how cool is this thing? We were the hit of the floor, all our favorite nurses came by and had some, and to check in on Sally.

So what was in the cake you may ask? My wife could answer better than I, but there was chocolate and I think chocolate chip cookie doh. I turned around at one point and noticed the owl now looked terrifying, Or as I put it, a hunter must have shot it:

I hope Sally’s primary nurses get some, Kate was working tonight but Hannah isn’t in til tomorrow. C’mon Nicole, you have to save a piece for Hannah.

Also, here is the business card of the amazing baker who made this cake for Sally:

So, the family got to spend Sally’s birthday together, Thomas got a bit freaked out about Sally’s feeding tube right after this shot:

But after cake and pizza we did manage to get one family shot:

Overall a good day, hoping Sally gets to come home in the afternoon as planned. Overall, it was a good day. My head is nodding down as I write this so am going to send and go crash, knowing Sally will hopefully be under our roof tomorrow.

Oh – can anybody drive in any raffle items from Long Island on Saturday for the fundraiser? Please let Steve know twitch3929@yahoo.com

Please keep Sally in your thoughts and prayers.

Matt