Welcome to the journal of love and hope for Valerie Lopez-Robinson. This website chronicles Valerie's journey in healing.
Valerie was diagnosed with Grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme. Her Mom, Bernice, explains how this diagnosis was reached below:
Valerie was having headaches that started as one a day. We thought they were stress induced or part of her shoulder problem that she was getting therapy for.
The headaches started to get worse and was thought by her pediatrician to be sinus's and she was started on a sinus medication. She advised to try that for
one week and if that did not work we would get a CT done. Fri. 01-27-06 was the end of the week and her headaches were not being prevented by the sinus medication,
in fact, they were getting worse. They were lasting all day with no relief. We tried to get through the weekend to go back to her Dr. However she started vomiting
and having pain in her neck. It then sounded like meningitis, so I took her to Childrens Hospital on Sun. 01-29-06. When we got to the ER she was thought to have
migraines by the triage nurse and we waited for 2 1/2 hours in the waiting room. Then she got a CT done in the ER and it was clear, so they did a spinal tap that
revealed that she had too much spinal fluid in her head that was causing her headaches. They said sometimes this happens, so they removed the extra fluid and thought
this would take her headaches away and she would be fine. When her headaches did not go away they admitted her to the neuro floor of Childrens. For the next few days
they were running all kinds of tests, trying to find out what was the cause of the spinal fluid building up. Every day they were ruling out all kinds of stuff and as
time went by we were facing more and more serious problems. Her MRI's showed some abnormal areas in the brain and spine, she under went a biopsy of one of the spots
in the lower spine on Fri. 02-03-06. This told us right away it was cancer, however they could not tell us what type of cancer it was. They said it would take a few
days for the final diagnosis. During this time Valerie was given pain medication and a drainage tube for the spinal fluid along with some other medications for infection,
diuretic (water pill) and steroids for inflammation. We got her final diagnosis on 02-07-06 The drainage tube was taken out and she was discharged from the hospital on 02-08-06
Valerie is feeling much better now, she does not have any headache's. She has been going back to school. She will start chemo and radiation next week and then will be
home schooled. Her spirits are very high and she said she is going to fight this!! So let us all pray she win's her battle.
Thank you to everyone for the love and support and most of all their prayers.
Bernice
8-29-06 Update
Hello everyone,
Valerie has her good days and her bad days. Some days she is in more pain than others. She has lost a lot of her strength in her hands. She can hardly hold on to forks and spoons to eat with. We use plastic ware now because it is lighter and easier for her. If I had to take a guess within a week we will have to start feeding her. She also has a heavy feeling in her chest now that makes her feel like she has to work a little harder to breath. We now have home oxygen for her to use when she feels she needs it. 2 lpm via nasal cannula right now. We have had times lately that her neck is hurting her and she can't get comfortable and then she get very upset. So with that in mind the Dr. has given her lorazepam to calm her when she needs it and they have also given her another pain medication - morphine 10mg sublingual (under her tongue) every 2-4 hours as needed. She still takes her other pain meds. This started yesterday. So I guess now we have everything we need to keep her comfortable. A few days ago she had nausea and vomiting, not sure why that stated all of a sudden. She has not had to deal with that much. So we also got a medication called prochlorperazine to help her with the nausea and vomiting. So far so good with that. I wish I could update good news but it seems now we have hit the time where there is not much good left without a miracle. So as always I will keep you posted as I can.
Thanks again for your continued concern.
Bernice
10 Comments:
Bernice and Val!
I love you both!
really wish i could do something to help. I think you are both strong trying for the best for valerie.
Love ya both
Michael
Dearest Val,
May God grant you peace. May he grant your family strength and grace. Please know how much we love and miss you and that we are praying often for you and your family. I pray that our Holy Mother hold you in her arms and keep you safe.
Much Love, Angi Sermons
You all are on my heart and mind. I'm lifting you up to the Father.
Love and many prayers,
Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat
We are lifting you up in prayer Valerie. My offer still stand. . . I would love to come and sing and play my harp for you if you'd like. Much Love, Maria Palmer (from the Bannister swim team and Potomac Raiders) Age 12
Val, God Bless you for the beautiful young woman that you are and for all the lives you have enriched. So many people love you far more than you could ever imagine. Bernice, You both are in my prayers each and every day. May God give you peace and strength during this time.
Love always,
Mimi
Val! I miss you so much!! I've been keeping you in my prayers and putting an intention for you in the book at church EVERY WEEK! I know Lindsay said you got my card, and I hope you liked it! I really wish there was something I could do. I hate that things have only gotten worse. But miss you, love you. Praying for you too!
<3 always
Niki Murray
hey val i really miss u i wish that i could have spent more time with u b4 i moved u are a great friend and i think about u all the time i keep u in my prayers and i hope everything is going good and hopefully u have my number so if ne thing happens someone can call me and i will be there for u and if ur mom needs ne thing i will be there love u always and if there is ne way i can get ur adress so i can send u things that would be helpfull LOVE YOU AlWAYS... TRISHI
Val,
I think about you all the time and just wish that you weren't getting worse. I always will remember you as the greatest person. I remember how you helped me in 9th grade and made me the person I am today. It makes me sad that it isn't getting better, because you don't deserve this. Well girl you are in my prayers and I just hope everything starts going better for you.
Love your friend Chesna
Val:
I am so sorry your dad hasn't made an effort to see you since you were in the hospital a few months ago. But alas, he has never been there for you before, why should he start now. You should be so thankful that you have your mom and Julie, they have been amazing parents...who needs a dad when they have two great moms.
Suzy
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