Recent Updates
Thank you for checking out our new update page! Here we will blog about any new news about Pamela.
May 11th 2009:
Hello everyone! How was everybody's Easter and Mother's Day? I hope it was grand. I know mine was...well sort of. Forgive me for not updating since February. A lot has happened, so let's give you fine folks a recap:
Hmm what to start with. My eldest sister turned 27 in March (yay her!) Shorty still looks rocking for a mother of 2 girls who are growing up quick. Theresa is still wonderful, as is my ever growing nephew. Charlie is dating an old family friend who I love a lot as a 3rd older sister. Andrew is still....well he's still Andrew. Me? I have some really exciting news actually. I got accepted into The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Heck yea people I'm officially going to college...well once I make it past my high school graduation that is. I also got my prom dress. Don't get your hopes up folks, I don't have a date. But who needs one right? PRom is about getting dressed up, looking pretty, and making your last fun memories with your friends in high school.
Another great thing that happened: Congrats goes out to Mikey & Marissa Valenti who got happily married on April 18th 2009. Yay!!
Ok well, unfortunately, that ends the happy news. With much regret, I must inform all of you that my grandfather Jesse passed away in the morning of April 17th. My grandpa was a truly amazing man. He served 20 years in the Navy, was a big Mets fan (it was funny when it was a Yankees vs Mets game in my house when he lived here). That day was one of the worst for me, finding out about it. I know I shouldn't have been too shocked seeing as he was getting older. But it still hurt. My eldest brother, Charlie, wrote an amazing thing about him on facebook, and I think did a memorial thing in honor of his service in the Navy. I wish everyone could have known him. It was a loss that hit us all hard. God I miss him.
Ok ummm now that I'm all sad and I still have mounds of homework to do, I have to get going. Gotta keep my grades up so I can graduate and get my ass to college. Until next time,
♥ Pamela
February 15th 2009:
Recently I read a quote-
"When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you, and your best friend will be there." - Unknown.
It really got me thinking. I've been through a lot these past couple of years and let me tell you, that quote is more then true. I've been afraid of the future because I never knew what was coming next and how it would effect me in the end. I hate looking in the past because there's so much pain in it, and I don't mean just from surgeries either. But here in the present, I look around me each day, at each face of friends old and new that have been at my side since we met. I don't think they know how much I appreciate them and how much I love them. You really don't know what you have until it's gone and let me tell you, I've lost a lot but gained so much as well. For those who are reading this that are close to me, thank you for being around and putting up with my craziness.
Onto the next thing now before I cry or something...
Things have been alright. Flying solo still but I don't mind so much. I kinda had a thing going but I just wasn't ready for a relationship. Oh well, teen life, what can ya do? High school is alright. No less or more drama then the usual. Graduation draws near and man I cant wait. a few more months to go and I'm outta there. I'm going to miss a lot of things because I grew up here but I won't miss a lot of things and people.
I don't think there is much else to put here. Health wise I'm doing pretty good except for the spasms here and there. It's nice not to have killer headaches every morning. Normal ones I'm happy with thank you haha. Well, until next time (if something exciting happens),
Pamela <3
January 7th 2009:
Happy New Year Everybody!
Once again it's Pamela giving everyone an update. So recently I had to get a series of MRIs and a couple X-Rays done. Don't be alarmed though, it's just for my post-surgical check up that I will be going to on the 9th. The tests were not bad but I've been having some headaches lately even though the docs that examined my films said my shunt setting looked normal. Maybe it's just all the hectic atmosphere during the holidays that has been causing them. Who knows? I've also been having some pains along the line of the shunt but I think that's just my body trying to get used to it. Hmm what else to put...
Oh I know! I was lucky enough to get a job. I now work in one of two kitchens in the lodge at Shawnee Mountain. I owe a big thanks to my best guy friend Doug for helping me get that. My supervisors and co-workers are really cool and it makes work a lot of fun.
Christmas and New Year's was pretty awesome. As always, even though they drive me nuts, it was nice to be with my whole family.
I don't think there is anything else to update on me. I'll update after the doctors on Friday if we don't get home too late. Hope everybody had a wonderful holiday break!
November 36, 2008:
Hey everybody! This is Pamela taking the time to update this time. Like my sister said, I started my senior year regular time and I thank god for it. Though about that remark for the high school drama, already it's driving me crazy. But it's good to finally be back into a regular normal routine. I still have some trouble with a few things and there are still things I can't do, but I'm lucky enough to have teachers that are understanding and friends that support me. It really is an emotional roller coaster ride but I'm getting by thanks to my family and friends. The reality that I'm going to be graduating really hit me when I had my senior class meeting and we got measure for our cap and gowns. Talk about a reality check. It amazing how much I missed out in my high school life because of my condition, the doctor visits, the tests, and surgeries. Because of that, I'm thinking about waiting a year to go to college and take the time to try and get a real life. This includes trying to get a decent job to get some money to pay for my car and what not. I personally think I deserve a year to myself after everything.
Aside from all of that, I too want to personally thank my High School's staff as well as everyone else that had donated money for my cause. The bills are still stacking high but the donations you have all given do help even if it's only a little bit. The amount doesn't truly matter, but the reason behind it does. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me and my family out. It means so much to me. That's another reality that hit me when I found out about what the staff had done for me, courtesy of my favorite librarian Mrs. G. That if you tell the right people, the word gets spread and something really can be done to help out those in need. We stand by what we say on the website, that any extra money we may accumulate from donations we will certainly give back to the Chiari Institute to help further the care they provide and help other families like ours.
Once again I want to thank everyone for what they have been doing for us and I hope you all spread the word so that we can not only help ourselves but also help other children that are or may be going through what I have.
Sincerely, Pamela
P.S. Stupid me, I almost forgot to wish everybody a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving. Eat lots of good food, share in good times and good company, and be thankful for all the things both received and given.
October 30,2008:
I am sorry for the delays in updates. Things have been crazy with the family but now that they are getting back on track, I wanted to send out a update!
Pamela is back in school! She got to start school as a regular Senior and is thrilled to be thrown back into the mix. Typical teenage drama with school but I think she is secretly happy for it.
Her health is doing great as well. Her body is healing well with the Shunt and the scars are becoming covered up nicely with her hair.
I would like to take a space right now to thank all the teachers and staff and East Stroudsburg High School North for their recent donation. Each week they have "Casual For A Cause" and the week of 10/24 was for Pamela. We all thank them from the bottoms of our hearts for the support and understanding along with making the healing and recovery easier on the family.
July 22,2008:
Pamela is finally home after a few complications. She had a Cerebal Spinal Fluid (CSF) leak so the Doctors decided to place a shunt in her head to help drain the extra fluid. Now she is recovering at home with her new puppy Scooter!
We thank everyone for all their thoughts and prayers!
July 2,2008:
I am updating from the hospital. Pamela's surgery was a success and hopefully all done yesturday will keep her from having anymore surgeries in the future! The CM1 has been corrected and now is just the waiting game for recovery. It will be a slow process but she knows that the end result is going to be well worth all the pain.
Thank you all for the kind words, prayers, and thoughts through this rough time. All of us in the family thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
April 18,2008:
Pamela visited the Chiari Institute on 4/18 for a check up. She began to have problems as if she never had the spinal surgery and they wanted to take a look as to what was going on. After extensive testing, it was determine that Pamela will need another surgery.
On July 1, 2008, Pamela will once again enter surgery in hope to help her recover and hopefully begin a normal life as a teenager. this surgery is not only more serious but also more risky than the one from 8/23/07. We ask that you keep Pamela and our family in your thoughts and prayers.
We would like to take a moment and thank the teachers and staff of Middle Smithfield Elementry School. As a request from Miss Kruger, who is the teacher of one of Pamela's nieces, the school is donating the money raised from Casual Friday to Pennies For Pamela. We can not begin to thank the school enough for the surprise donation and we are very grateful for it.