Hello there from Ireland!
Well, we made it home after 2 days of travelling. Our 2nd flight, Hong Kong to London was horrible. Really bad turbulence and I was sick for 12 out of the 13 hour flight!! But we eventually got home and we are so happy to be back. Everything went really well with my tests the other day. It showed my vision has improved great in the visual fields test, vep test and oct exam. All of them were much better than at the start. My retina has thickened ,and overall the stem cells are helping me out!! It could take a few months for me to see any more improvements so please god let them continue. I will keep ye updated. Thanks for all yere help over the last few months. So happy to be home!! Woohoooooo!
Love and hugs
Vallie and Matthew
March 7th, 2010
Hello there
Well this will be my last post from China.And what an amazing journey it has been for us both.It was worth every tear, penny and sleepless nights. I am so unbelievably grateful to all the staff here on the 8th floor. Dr Tony, my fav doc in the whole world!! Jerry and Andy who gave me hours of relaxation. The fabulous nurses who took such good care of me over the last 6 weeks. Not forgetting my new buddies Jack, Lucy, Alice, Amanda and Wendy. For making this a home away from home and giving us hours of laughter.
I have seen some amazing success stories since I have been here and I am glad we made the decision to come here.I had my tests done today downtown and it went remarkably well. Dr Tony will be around in the morning with the results but we know they are much better than the first ones.Will let ye know!!
Anyway, I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for keeping us company on this very difficult but amazing journey. We will miss all our new friends and all the fantastic parents and patients that we have met. But I am so happy to be going home to my beautiful sweet Abbeyknockmoy / Lenamore!!
I will be in touch as soon as I can about the eye results. Til irish time, zai jian!!!
Love and kisses
Vallie and Matt
March 3rd, 2010
Ni Hao!!
Well, last night was my 8th and final stem cell treatment. I was called up to the OR at around 8pm. Dr Tony done my stem cell transfer today and it all went really well. It was all over within the half hour. First time and all! I love chinese doctors!! Anyway, my blood pressure and teemperature was all normal and they continued the fluids for about an hour after I came down. My temperature was a little high after a few hours so I had to drink lots of water. It came down again a few hours later. It took me forever to sleep last night, I was wired to the moon!! Anyway, was up nice and early this morning and no sign of any headache. My lower back and going down my legs are kinda sore but Dr T was around earlier and said its all normal. easing off a little now though.
Dr Tony has arrange me to go to the hospital tomorrow instead of today so we get to pack up!! Im gonna miss Dr Tony!!I then had Jerry with my electric wave and accupuncture!
Now we have to pop across the road and buy another suitcase….woops!
Anyway, we chat again later. Love to everyone back home . See ye soon!! Have the spuds ready mammy!
Vallie and Matt xxx
March 2nd, 2010
Hello there,
Well, it was our last weekend in China and we done a bit of shopping in the open market and lazed around chatting. Sunday was not a nice day. It was like a storm here. Lots of fireworks again as its lantern festival. We are so ready to go home now.I have my last treatment tonight via lumbar. This morning all the doctors came in and the head guy is very pleased with my progress. Im looking forward to going to get the tests done tomorrow. We got an earlier flight home, Yippeeee!! There is loads of new families here so its super busy around the place. Im just after getting my IV in my hand for tonight so were going cooking shortly cos I cant eat after 6 . Its finally nearly over, cant believe it went so quickly. Im gonna miss all my new friends!!!
Anyway, I will write again later after the spinal. Thanks for all yere emails and well wishes.
4 MORE DAYS!!!!!!
Lots of love
Valerie and Matthew
March 1st, 2010
Hello there,
Well, its a fantastic day here in Qingdao. Nice and sunny. I had my morning therapies with Jerry until around 11 and then we hung out on the couchs for a while. I had a video interview with the guys from beike today. That was fun!! We then chatted for hours with 2 families, which we really enjoyed. Done a little shopping and ate in the Holiday Inn. Nice!!
We have tomorrow and Sunday free so we trying to figure out whats left to do. Not long left here, cant wait to go home and see everyone. But of course we will miss all our new buddies!! Im nearly ready to start packing but Matthew wont let me yet. I suppose it is a bit early!!!! I have my last treatment this monday, a spinal so then were pretty much done by wednesday.
Anyway, no more news from me!! Only that, Im still happy!!!!!!!!!!
Toodles for now,
Valerie and Matthew
February 26th, 2010
Hello there,
Well, we have calmed down a little since all the excitement. Thats why I forgot to write last night!! Ooooppss! I had my 7th stem cell transfer last night via IV. It went really well. No hiccups! It was over in about an hour and temperature and blood pressure all normal. Only one more spinal to go!! I cant believe we are here 5 weeks today, it went so quickly. Except for today, went so slow. We didnt do much. Dr Tony came in this morning, he has arranged for the eye tests next tuesday and will give me a copy of all before we go home.To show the doctors at home. Prove them wrong!!! I told them I would do it!! I know its a little but if this is all i get I will be happy woman!! Its a great feeling.
Anyway, nothing else to report from Qingdao, hope everyone is super happy! Like me!!
Chat tomorrow,
Valerie and Matthew
February 25th, 2010
Hi there kids!!
Well, finally a bit of good news. I have been noticing a few improvements in the last week, sorry I couldnt tell ye until I knew for sure!! Dr Tony came around today and done the eye test and it showed noticable improvements. When I first arrived, the initial eye exam was done, on the eye chart. The top letter, in my left eye I could see at 1 meter now I can see it at 1.85 meters. My right eye has gone from 1.03 meters to 2.85 meters. He said me right eye is doing much better than my left. I have been noticing a small few things. I can see the colour red now, for the first time in almost 6 years!!! My supernova software, that I use on the laptop, is down by 1. I could see the white in Matthew’s eyes, the red dragon across the road. I know these are only tiny things but they are HUGE things for me.
I just hope and pray it will continue to improve. I am going to the eye hospital next week to do more tests so keep the fingers crossed. Dr Tony is very pleased with the progress so lets hope it continues to get better over the next few months. Needless to say Im ESTATIC!!!! Im about to dance around the place here!!Anyway, just wanted to let ye all know how much I apreciate yere messages, prayers and thoughts. It all helps!!
Lots of love
Valerie
February 23rd, 2010
Hi there,
Were here in a super sunny,blue sky, little chilly Qingdao! There hasn’t been much happening the past 2 days. I’m just waiting for my 7th stem cell, tomorrow evening, Wednesday. I have had my usual therapies with Jerry this week. Electric wave and accupuncture. My poor forehead is a little bruised from getting it done everyday but its going good so I’ll hang in there for another few days. I’m definitely going to continue them when I go home.
Matthew got his hair cut today, it took 40 minutes!!!Imagine daddy taking 40 minutes to cut one fellas hair!!! It turned out nice though. We starting doing a bit more pressie shopping today, its coming near the end!! Yey!! Im meeting Dr Tony later to go out to the eye chart so we’ll see what happens there.
Well, thats it for now, will be on again later. Thanks for keeping us company and sending us yere best wishes.
Lots of love,
Valerie and Matthew
February 23rd, 2010
Hello there from a nice and sunny Qingdao.
Hope everyone is keeping well. We had this weekend off so we didnt do too much yesterday. My back was a little sore after the spinal but not too bad. But we took it easy anyway. We done a little shopping across the road and made dinner. Other than that, we just chilled out . Today, we had a great day. Wendy brought us to downtown Qingdao at 9.30 this morning.We started out at the temples. Its amazing there. So peaceful and quiet. We watched people pray to the buddhas, we saw the monks , and we touched a good luck and health statue. It was a truely unique experience. After this, we went to Jusco shopping centre where we ate lunch, tasty! Myself and Wendy then went for a facial, while matthew walked around downtown.Oh the facial!!!!! Such bliss. My skin feels amazing after it. They use all natural products made from plants, herbs and oils! I love it!! I got a head, face, shoulder and neck massage with it all for just 8 euro!!This finished up around 3 so we headed back to matthew and got a taxi back to the hospital.We then went to the Holiday inn, later on, for dinner. They knew us tonight, so funny!
Anyway, tomorrow, I have my morning therapies, and free for the day. I have stem cell no 7 this wednesday.
Only 14 days till we take off!!!!!!! So excited, cant wait to go home. I miss everyone so much. Not long now!!!
Lots of love, till tomorrow,
Valerie and Matthew
February 22nd, 2010
Hi there,
Hope everyone is keeping well. Im writing this blog the morning after my 6th stem cell. So excited its near the end!!!!!! Only 2 more to go! One IV and one lumbar and home sweet home! Well friday started out with my usual therapies, we done a little shopping and then I got my nails done with wenday. they even took pictures of my hands for their website!! They have never seen small, white cute hands before!! It was a funny experience!1
Anyway, I got my Iv in my hand fairly easy this time, thank god!! Than had the fluids drip which lasted around 1 hour 20 mins, but it passed the time to 8!! Melody and Alice wheeled me up to the 9th floor, the part I hate! Reminds me of Greys anatomy! Anyway, Melody, the stem cell nurse, injected the anti allergy and valluim!! The doctor done the job and before I knew it was all done again. I love this hospital! The doctors are just amazing! My blood pressure, pulse and temperature were all normal again and off I went to lie down flat for 6 hrs! Matthew just laughs at me for about a half hour because I sound like im drunk!! It took me a while to fall asleep but I did around 1 am and slept through until 8.Luckily, this morning I have no headache! My lower back is sore but thats expected! So were gonna take it easy today and rela
So that is all for now, I will write again this evening with an update. Thank you all so much for lighting candles and praying for me yesterday. Cant wait to go home now and get back to normality!! The countdown is on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk to ye tonight, Love and kisses from Qingdao
Valerie and Matthew xxxxx
February 20th, 2010
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