OASIS - PART DEUX - DAY 6 EVENING

We ran up to Whole Foods in San Diego today.  Valerie
tried their banana bread.  As soon as she took a bite, she
said, "they don't have anything on your mom's banana
bread."  Thankfully, my mom emailed today saying she's
already mailed a loaf of her banana bread.  It'll be waiting
for our return.  Thanks mom!!!

Okay, so NOTHING can top the GREAT news!!  But I will say, today has been a day for good news.

Our dear friend Lisa (who thinks she's not doing enough - ha!) just posted a beautiful piece on facebook about Valerie's healthcare and the cost to come here to Mexico.  It is a beautiful, wonderful, compassionate plea for people to contribute to Valerie's healthcare.  Lisa, we can't thank you enough for your concern, help, support, love, and compassion.  THANK YOU!!!  When Valerie was first diagnosed, Lisa sent cards, gifts, tokens, uplifting things almost everyday for WEEKS!!!  She has been one of my closest friends for the past 25 years and one of OUR closest friends for the past 15 years.  Lisa was the first person I called when Valerie and I got together.  I was prepared for a difficult or awkward phone call and Lisa made it easy as pie.  Let's just say she knew me better than I knew myself.   love you Lisa!!

One of our (Lisa and my) favorite times together.  That was a whole other long
story.... it actually had it's own blog too. :)  Love you Lisa - and David RIP.

Another bit of good news is about where we'll be staying for the next 6 days.  In case it wasn't clear in previous posts... Valerie received the full 6 days of treatment that included the IPT-C (her course of treatment that includes IVs of vitamin C, vitamin K, perftec, kemdalin, etc.) plus the IPT (low dose chemo) - all told, about 5-7 treatments per day.  Well, when we got here, the doctor said that he recommended she do 6 extra days of JUST the IPT (low dose chemo).  That particular IV lasts about 30 minutes.  So we were toying with what to do the rest of the day for the next 6 days.  Riding around to see the sites would have been okay - but riding in a car (with ME driving in Mexico!) may not have been the most relaxing thing for Valerie.  :)  So I contacted a friend who, last time,  had offered the use of her time share, before she realized we'd be "living" in a hospital the whole time.  She and I talked today and after it was all said and done, we will be staying at a resort just 30 minutes south of where we are now from Sunday through Friday - all thanks to her and her time share!!!  THANK YOU ANA!!!!  This will be such a more relaxing, healing, comfortable space to be.  We just have to drive 30 minutes each way to get Valerie's one IV per day.  Piece of cake.  Valerie has said all day how thankful she is that we will be in a room/suite overlooking the Pacific.  We don't have to drive to the ocean or to see the sites, we can just sit and relax for the week.

The other piece of good/bittersweet news is that Valerie has known for awhile that she was getting an inheritance from her Aunt Georgia, who died earlier this year.  We just learned today that her Aunt Georgia's estate is settled and Valerie will be receiving several thousand dollars within the next month.  Obviously this is bittersweet because her Aunt Georgia died and it was actually quite a surprise that she left a lot of her money/assets to her nieces and nephews.  Her gift will easily pay for this trip to Mexico and the next month's worth of home treatment.  Wow.  What a huge gift and the timing could not have been better.

We continue to be overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of those around us.  Thank you all for sharing in the good news that the doctor gave today and for continuing to keep us in your thoughts, prayers, alter sacrifices, chants, etc.  :)  We have such a diverse group of friends and family and we are forever grateful for all of the support and love you show us everyday.

We love and appreciate all of you very much.