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

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

9-20-06 Update

Hello everyone,

Sorry I have not updated in a few weeks. Things are not much different. She has a few good days and then a few bad days and it goes back and forth. We have not been able to pin point any certain cause that makes her get sick. But when she does have her sick days, she can not keep anything down and she pretty much sleeps all day. That will last about 2 days and then she will feel good for about 2 days.

Her appetite is gone down. When she is not sick she eats but small amounts and not as many times a day, like she was last month. She has got addicted to Starbucks . Mother like daughter :-)

She does not seem to be as depressed as she was. She excepts people coming to visit now, when she is feeling ok that is. With her being sick so often it is hard to make plans to go places or have people set up to visit. It is like one minute she is fine and then the next she does not feel good and then it lasts for a couple days.

She is still able to use a spoon on her own. However she can not pick up her pills or any small candy. So we have to feed her that. She uses her home oxygen from time to time and we use the morphine more now.

There is not much else to say right now. I will update as changes occur. So if time passes without an update that means she is not getting worse.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers,
Bernice

9 Comments:

At 8:19 AM, Blogger Rosie Cavin Gollehon said...

Niecey,please tell Valerie I love her and I feel so bad for her. Keep up your spirit and know that she is never far from my mind and I wish I could take away her suffering like I took away her beans!
LOve
Rosie Cavin (Gollehon)

 
At 12:50 PM, Blogger Sammy Diehl said...

Valerie,I lift you and your family up in prayer daily....may God give you peace and comfort in all that you endure. You are an inspiration to all who know you. Stay strong in your faith...With love Sammy Diehl (BNS)

 
At 4:28 PM, Blogger Niki M. said...

Hey Val! Glad your doing some what ok for the time being. I am still keeping you in my prayers. And I do want to come and visit, but as your mother said it would be hard and another thing is, in all honesty...I'm scared to come see you. I'm afraid that if I come and see you I'll cry, and I don't want to do that. But I love you! And your in my prayers always, as well as my family and boyfriends. Hope to hear more soon.

<3 always
Niki M.

 
At 2:24 AM, Blogger muddyhouse said...

Valerie - Tyler and our family pray for you daily - Our church First Baptist of St.Charles lifts you and your family up in our prayers often. You are on our minds daily. You have touched many lives and still amaze us. Be strong and always remember you are so special to many people!

The Mudd Family (BNS)

 
At 4:51 PM, Blogger Chesna said...

Valerie,
I pray for you all the time, even in church. I am so proud of your courage, because I couldn't do it. I miss you seeing you at school and always wonder what can I do. I hope everything starts going better for you. I would come to see you, but I don't know if I could. I really wish that I could something as a mircale as what you did for me, in 9th grade, I really miss you, and just wish that you get better.
Stay strong girl,and I will continue to pray for you, each and everyday.

Love
Chesna

 
At 12:30 PM, Blogger Shelby said...

Valerie~I am so sorry so many years passed without seeing eachother, but no matter what you were always on my mind. Let me know when I can come see you with or without your nephews (Nick might run all over the place). In the mean time I'll keep praying for you. I love you so much.
~Shelby
P.s. Bernice ~ My # is stored in Val's cell. Can you please call me when she knows about getting together?and updates?...I'm not getting much through the grapevine.

 
At 4:52 PM, Blogger Jessy said...

Val. Hang in there Babe. We're all thinking about you and keeping you in our hearts. Dont give up. your so strong. I love you!

Jessy N

 
At 6:41 PM, Blogger Aaron Johnson said...

hey val this is aaron johnson. i havent talked to u in awhile, but i have juss been thinkin about u alot. Things are the same with me. Juss doin wat i always do. Football, Football, o ya and more Football. haha lol. any ways juss im juss keepin u in my prayers. Hope that u get better. love always Aaron Johnson

 
At 10:12 PM, Blogger Pat said...

Hi Valerie. My name is Pat Pruss. You don't know me, but I talked with your mom awhile back, about my son Nick Falco. It was clear from our talk how very much your mom loves you - guess you know that though ! I too pray for you, just like alot of folks who lift you and your family up for strength and wisdom and comfort. Anyway, I don't know if you ever liked dolls or stuffed animals when you were younger, perhaps you slept with a favorite stuffed animal. Well, I wanted to share a secret with you. When I go thru a tough time, I sleep with a stuffed bunny or teddy bear - and I'm 52 years old !! So, on those tough nights, if you can't get comfortable to sleep, try it. And remember, you are loved by many.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home