Archive for April, 2007
Well we did finally make it home after a nightmare in NJ our flight was cancelled from Newark, NJ to Pittsburgh on Sunday. It was around 6 pm when we touched down in NJ and of course I had no help again. The airline told me I had to get my luggage and recheck it (hahaha) and just what I needed 5 more bags to carry.
I got my luggage off and of course there are no luggage carts left by this time. I looked at Kendra and said well I guess we need to say a pray because we need a mircle right now. Both of us exhausted of course by this time. I said JC (Jesus Chris of course) we need someone to come by with a luggage cart to help us right now. I was saying this of course out loud while everyone was standing there staring at me like I was crazy. They by the way were waiting for a luggage cart also. 40 seconds later a man from the airport came by and said hey you need help. I was suppose to go outside but something made me come in. Of course people was trying to get the man to help them first and I just stood there. It was the strangest thing and of course all the people are really staring at me now. I looked at Kendra and said see I told you we have someone watching over us this whole trip. It is nice to have God on your side. When I left the people were still in shock wondering who I really was. So with 300 hundred flights cancelled and so many people standing around I guess I did get a mircle now didn’t I.
So the man takes us to the check in gate and of course there are 140 people in front of us. By this time it is 6:30 or so and I thought we will be in this line for 4 more hours. Kendra was totally wiped out along with me. So guess what I did. Said another little pray and the check in guy up front stands up and looks over the croud comes right back to me and Kendra and said come with me hahaha. Those people in line was ready to kill me I think haha. So they checked all my bags, the 5 I picked up (which by the way they weren’t doing for anyone else) got us set up with a hotel and meal tickets and we were on our way to a hotel to get rest and food. With all those people and all those flight cancelled I would say we did get a part the red sea mircle don’t you agree?
When I got home Darrin had the whole house clean, pizza casarole made and of couse the Easter Bunny left two baskets one for Kendra and one for me. With two beautiful cards. What a wonderful man I have so loving, caring and supportive I truely am a lucky women to have such a wonderful person in my life.
I will post more about the trip to the hotel maybe on Friday when I get back from Lancaster.
Say a little pray hey this stuff works haha.
Love
Sarah and Kendra.
April 18th, 2007
Well we finally made it home late Monday flight was cancelled what a mess. Post later when we have more energy. Sorry I can’t call you all back so I am leaving a message so you know we at least made it home safe. thanks.
love
Sarah and Kendra
April 17th, 2007
Well we finished all the therapy so I thought I would hurry and post one last time from China but I will keep Kendra’s Blog updated and add the picture for all of you that supported us in our adventure and what an adventure it was.
I just thought of something I can’t believe I flew half way around the world with Kendra by myself now I am nervous what was I thinking.
Just kidding
I did want to post and thank everyone for supporting us over here it was nice to see all the comments of people thinking of us back home.
The time went pretty fast over here but I can’t wait to get home. Kendra and I are both pretty tired. But we have met some amazing people here from all over the world. The kids I have seen come through here have amazing dedicated parents just trying to make their childs life a little better. Even though we are all hoping for a mircle most of us will be happy with some improvements for our child.
We are all cheering even when someone else child makes an advance in the therapy room. Even if we can’t speak the same language you can tell we are all happy about someone else child making the smallest change. Some things are just universal I guess lol.
I can’t wait to see you Darrin, Kendra and I miss you so much and thank you so much for supporting us we couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for you. I love your comments big kisses to you – me and elmo.
Thanks for the email address Susan. And what do you mean by 20 year history on the weather????????????? that just doesn’t sound good.
Well the next time I post it will be from the good old USA it’s almost 5 Saturday evening and I leave 8:30 tomorrow morning.
New chinese lesson:
Knee how means how are you
way means hello
Hanghzou is really hong joe
she she is thank you
I guess at least I was corrected before I left better than not at all you wonder how people tell you to say hello over here and it not be right lol. Well I guess at least I wasn’t swearing at people I bet that would have made it quite a long trip. lol
The cleaning lady can’t speak a work of english so I helped her to say Kendra, good morning and thank you it was pretty cool today she came in with a note written in english from one of the nurses that said I wish the best for your family and I hope you have a safe trip back home. I thought that was pretty cool.
Well thats all from China thank you all once again she she once again lol
See you on the other side of the world
Love
Sarah and Kendra
I love you Daddy – Elmo
April 14th, 2007
Well only one more day to go tomorrow. Its around 5 pm here and we are getting ready for supper.
I posted yesterday but it doesn’t look like it worked I don’t see the post on the site.
Kendra still seems pretty tired so I hope when we get home we can get rested up some before I have to go to Lancaster.
Thanks for posting about the buck and boost transformer Mikie. I figured by the time I get the machine here and have the US scatch out my eyes for the conversation I would have more in than getting one in the US. I can’t explain 110 v verses 220 v and you want me to go into cycles you have been at Burley’s too long. And I hope the Pompoms and the mini skirt match oh yes and I want picutures lol.
Thank you for the wonderful message Bonnie, Amber and Lauren you should always have even a little hope.
Lauren had a wonderful day in therapy Thursday, every time her mom Bonnie would call her name she would look right at her even when she changed which side of her she was on. We are all very excited over the progress they have only been here a short time with only two stem cells in.
Hey Susan tell everyone hi at school for me and Kendra. I was asking for the web site of where to order the shoe for over the foot braces. You gave me a paper copy that I have at home and Lauren’s mom was looking for shoe so Lauren could go to her sister Amber’s graduation instead of just wearing socks. We can talk about Kendra school schedule when I get home. thanks
One custom here is when you are in the hospital your family cooks and brings all your meals in for you. I thought that would be pretty tough if you were in two weeks and you need breakfast, lunch and dinner and I had to go to Johnstown 3 times a day. I am thinking someone would be pretty hungry lol.
The weather is still pretty nice here, very hot and they are saying summer is coming I think it is about 104 in the summer (no thanks).
I am doing some of the packing today I don’t know when I will fit in the rest but I guess I will have to get to it. I thought I would at least be off Saturday afternoon lol so I guess I will just throw things in where they will fit and sort it out when I get home.
Talk to you all tomorrow
Love
Sarah and Kendra
I love you Daddy see you shortly Elmo
April 13th, 2007
Well we are half way through Wednesday leaving on Sunday so we are almost done. The last stem cell when well, they started at 5 pm so Kendra slept until 7 am the next morning and of course I had to wake her up for therapy lol. I can’t believe she slept all those hours. I rolled her off her back around 12 midnight and she never even woke up.
Seizure activity is down I see a little things here and there but nothing major so thats a plus. I thought maybe it would go back up after the last spinal but nothing ever came about. Kendra is having another good day here Dr. Mike is very happy with her muscle for her arms getting softer and coming down quite a bit but still have work to do on them. I am hoping once we get back in the hot tub it will help them the rest of the way. I really need to find a doctor who will approve the e-stim. I was thinking about the machine itself and I don’t think it will work at home even with the convert. The convert go from 220 to 110 I don’t think they make them the other way. If I can find a doctor back home to write the scrip the insurance should pay for it so I will work on that when I get back home. No word here anyways on the machine and if I do spend the money on it will it work or not would be the big question.
It is pretty exciting over here because the doctors actually like to do things for Kendra not like back home just want me to give up. They all seem excited over every little thing and look to try different things with Kendra. So I am glad I came.
I hope you are planning on getting rid of that snow and cold before I come home, you better hurry up lol.
One of the customs they have over here if one of your family members are in the hospital the family brings them their meals to eat. I thought that would get pretty time consuming three meals a day if you were in two weeks WOW. But you see people coming in with pots and dishes of food on the way to patients rooms.
I have a lot of picture from China so I think I will just post them on the blog when I get home it might be easier for everyone to see them faster than waiting for me to get to your house to visit lol.
I have to leave for Lancaster on Wednesday morning April 18th so I won’t be around too much the week I get back.
HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY MOM SEE YOU SOON AT LEAST I GET OUT OF BUYING YOU A PRESENT GOOD EXCUSE RIGHT
Talk to you all later
Love
Sarah and Kendra
I love you Daddy – Elmo
I wanted to thank each and every one of you for all your help with Kendra. The doctors back home tell me to give up and this is the first group of people who actually try to make a difference in Kendra’s life. I am so thankful that I am here and everyone has been so positive for a bright future for Kendra. I cannot say thank you enough for all the support that you have given me and my daughter during our stay here in China.
Thank you so much
Love Sarah and Kendra Reese
April 11th, 2007
Well Kendra is going in between 5 and 6 tonight for her final spinal stem cell. We will finish out the week with therapy starting 8 am Tuesday again right through Saturday. They wanted to do the stem cells at 2:30 and I thought she would sleep until 9 pm or so then be up all night and have to be ready for therapy at 8 am so I told them it would be better if they did the stem cells later in the day so Kendra can sleep all night, she would be more rested. So I was glad they are waiting until later so maybe she won’t get up until 4 or 5 but who knows I might have to wake her at 7 am sleepy head lol.
Kendra and I went to the supermarket today we wanted to be famous people a few more times before we leave lol. The weather is really nice here today around 75 perfect day, I hope you are all enjoying the snow (yuck).
It is funny here all the people that work here kinda have nappy time during working hours. Not sure if its called a lunch time or just sleepy time seems pretty funny. Of course it was like that when I worked at Burleys some of us worked and the rest slept so I guess you have that everywhere you go.
It funny most of the stuff you can buy here is American, hello kitty is very big here, whinney the pooh, mickey mouse, etc so hard to buy anything that looks chinese to bring home doing my best to find stuff but most of it I could get in Walmart back home. Even the toys here Barbie is real big here too so far away but it remains the same lol.
Talk to you all later
Love
Sarah and Kendra
I love you daddy – Elmo
April 9th, 2007
WOW you should see the big baskets the Easter Bunny left us I was totally amazed who said the Easter Bunny didn’t get adults anything. I must have been a really good girl this year.
Happy Easter everyone
Went out a little today it is pretty nice out here today around 80 degrees but a nice breeze blowing. I went out with the new family here from CA for a little while. They brought Kendra two pair of little socks they are so cute. Kendra also got one of the flowers off Lauren’s wheelchair. She has all these little flowers with the faces on them. Them stay on her chair and they gave Kendra one it’s pretty cute.
We are on the count down to coming home this time next week we will be in the air on our way back to good old USA, so it won’t be long now. I was surprised how fast the time went but I can’t wait to see Darrin (be home soon baby). I guess it’s a good thing they keep you busy here the free days seem to go by a lot slower than when we have therapy all day so I guess that was good.
I don’t think we are used to the time change yet, I was in bed the other morning thinking it was 8 am and I didn’t want to get up. This coming from 4:30 am riser at home whats the deal with that. Maybe that’s why Kendra seems tired too I guess it is quite a big time difference. So we will have to do it all over again when we get home lol.
Nothing exciting going on here today (YET) lol
Kendra is still doing good
I think that’s all for today talk to you all later
Love
Sarah and Kendra
I love you daddy – Happy Easter love Elmo
April 8th, 2007
Well we our down to the final week here in Hangzhou, China. Kendra will have the final stem cell treatment on Monday. She even has therapy on Saturday lol right before we leave so it was worth the trip. I hope she gets a lot from this trip I will know in about 2 or 3 months after we get home.
Have to tell you all about some of their customs when I get home. I hope this week goes smoothly but I am sure it won’t it’s me and Kendra lol.
Nothing crazy happened today SO FAR.
I am sure you are getting ready to start the Easter Holiday keep thinking about the big juicey ham, gravy you know real food lol. I know the Easter Bunny will find me and kendra to leave our baskets here in China haha. I hope you all have a great Easter
love
Sarah and Kendra
I love you daddy Happy Easter – Elmo
April 7th, 2007
Kneehow from China
Well can’t believe it’s Friday again and this time next week I will be packing to come home.
Kendra had a really good day today she was very alert and looking around today. We did go to the store today. I went out yesterday but I had to turn around it was way too cold for Kendra. The weather here is like at home 90 one day 40 the next. It is suppose to rain over the weekend so I didn’t think I would be able to take Kendra out so I thought we better go a little today and get some more things I need for the weekend.
The frogs, turtles, fish and etc. at the store are just sitting in the tanks waiting for someone to puck them into a plastic bag and then home for the boiling water. Most everything you buy at the store is still alive man talk about fresh, it looks like a big aquarium at the store. Not for the weak stomach or the animal lover that’s for sure.
Meet Lauren today and her family that came with her. Her sister Amber, Mother Bonnie and Grandfather Bob are here with her they are from CA. Lauren has a lot of stuffed flowers on her chair they are pretty cute. They are here until May but I am sure it will go fast for them too. This is her website if you would like to visit .
http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=laurenashley
Sorry to hear about Mr. Teno I thought he was doing so well. Tell the Teno’s I will be thinking about them all and I am sorry I am not there to help.
I think it has been an experience coming here with Kendra I have met so many nice people the doctors, nurses and staff are all very helpful. Sometimes the communication is a little tough but we seem to get around it some how.
Come on would I go to Africa Lucy lol don’t be scared. Yes Martin is a very special person I guess he figures if him and Kendra can’t talk he would sing to make her feel special and comfortable. He tells her relax chinese message enjoy lol.
Well I guess that’s all for today unless something else happens when I go back to room 3 lol.
love
Sarah and Kendra
I love you daddy see you soon – elmo
April 6th, 2007
Kendra did great on the second spinal. She slept all night and took at nap from 10:30 to 12 after therapy. She went out like a light even with everyone knocking on our door lol.
Seems funny this time next week I will be packing to leave on Sunday the 15th. It seems like I just got here but eating this food seems like I’ve been here for 6 months.
Kendra was laughing at Martin (PT) dancing around and singing old mcdonald (his version) lol half english half chinese. Martin was telling everyone today about Kendra laughing at him in the therapy room lol. He was saying it was the first time she laughed since she got here lol.
I should get our schedule for next week tomorrow but I think the last stem cell will be on Wednesday too. We have Saturday and Sunday off again I think they are trying to spoil us or we look pretty beat up one of the two lol.
I am still working on getting the e stim machine if this drags out much longer I may not have it to come home. I keeping asking but they are waiting for someone to call back and it seems he or she is very hard to get a hold of. I hope I can get it Kendra’s muscles seem to be getting a lot softer and they don’t seem to go right back like with the regular exercise. We don’t have enough time here to get all her muscle softer but we are moving the machine around to the tightest one first and it seems to be working so I hope it lasts.
The sun is just coming out today I don’t know if it is cold out or not you can’t go by what everyone outside is wearing the sweaters and the coats never seem to go away. So it could be 95 or 35 who knows. Not sure if we are going out or not it’s almost 4 already and I usually feed Kendra at 5.
Talk to you tomorrow
Love
Sarah and Kendra
I love you Daddy – Elmo
PS
Always excitement here well at least in room 3 here in the hospital. I was having supper with elmo and the Zhejiangx hit the window so hard I thought it was going to break the window. And just in case you are wondering what Zhejiangx is this place is called the Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital so the Zhejiang that hit the window was the hugh steel sign of the hospital name on the roof well actually now it’s off the roof. lol Dunno know about this place people wanting to jump off the roof, signs falling off the roof and image that it’s all happening outside my window in room 3 lol. Well at least someone wasn’t on the roof wanting attention and was hanging onto the sign dunno maybe they were lol.
April 5th, 2007
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