October 17, 2011
I am delighted to report that Samantha is having a very good month. A shunt revision surgery in September was likely the biggest reason for the turn around, but we have also had two solid weeks of improved eating habits. The girl always has been a picky eater choosing cereal for dinner and PB & J sandwiches since she was old enough to talk. But just before her accident was eating very healthy, very healthy. But after suffering through 2 1/2 years of a g-tube in her stomach for nutrition, she tasted a bowl of cereal, peanut butter and jelly, and sugar cookies and she was hooked. And I sometimes have a hard time depriving her of such pleasure, when she works so hard all the time. But I can truly see a difference in her energy and endurance levels when I let her slack to often.

So between the surgery that added an anti-siphon device to her shunt system and two solid weeks of great eating habits, with a few sugar cookies thrown in, she is really putting in some busy days.

Thankfully, she has some young assistants that can keep up with her. After going to the mall this afternoon, shopping for a birthday gift, hitting Target, and then grocery shopping, they finally came home and she still wants to play a game.

Interestingly enough though, 10 minutes on the computer doing any kind of brain work tirse her out more quickly than all that shopping she did in the last 4 hours. Cognitive fatigue - another obstacle I have to find a way around in order for her to continue to learn and grow.

Thank you to Dr. Lazareff and his team at UCLA for a successful surgery to fix the shunt system. Because clearly her intracranial pressure is more stable, reducing the headaches and overwhelming lethargic feeling so I can challenge her with some brain teasers.

Thank you all for your continued interest in how she is doing, and the unending love and friendship you give us.

October 1, 2011
By: Diana Palumbo

Late night meeting reviewing details and duties for Pageant of Hope. These true beauties really know how to spend their Friday night. How blessed we are that Samantha is right there with them and how unconditionally loving they are to her. What a great weekend this is going to be!!!!

September 27, 2011
By: Diana Palumbo

The Pageant of Hope is THIS Sunday. Excited about it for Samantha to get to participate. Shell be sharing her story using her text to speech computer and she gets to step back into her former life again.....wearing her sash and crown!
But these two notes on the HBBQs fb page really make me excited!
I know how much I enjoyed seeing my daughter on stage and the thrill of her simply introducing herself.... ...."a 15 year old from San Dimas, California. I AM Samantha Palumbo"!
So here are some notes from family members left HBBQs, Inc. Pageant of Hope looking forward to this weekend for THEIR special kiddos. LOVE IT!
Thanks Jena for giving us the honor of volunteering with this cool event!
"Hello! I am very excited about this pageant coming up in LA I spoke with you today about my 17 month old son tyler. Love what you do for these kids not to many people take the time with these loveable kids."
"Im so excited for this weekend pageant my daughter of 1 yr. will be in, and also my niece that is fighting cancer.. I spoke to u all of our family is excited."

September 23, 2011
By: Diana Palumbo

Samantha to Sam: "Dont worry about me for dinner tonight Dad"
"What, why not? Arent you hungry? He responds.
Sami: "Im going out with my friends, were gonna eat out!!"
Im so excited about this moment of such normalcy around my house on a Friday night. It literally takes my breath away. Look at us, how far weve come! The only thing out of the ordinary was that Samantha was "talking" to her dad using a text to speech computer. But even that is normal for us and doesnt bother me in the least! The reality is that Samantha is out with her friends tonight and celebrating life!

September 21, 2011
By: Diana Palumbo

Thank you all for riding the rollercoaster of brain injury with us. All the love and support makes us feel so loved and your prayers bring my heart comfort like nothing else. So Im asking that you all please say Samanthas name tonight because she is going in for another neuro- surgery tomorrow morning. Seems the fatique issues are likely related to that VP Shunt that needs to be revised. Ive done my due diligence and even consulted with a second neurosurgeon to confirm the inevitable.

So decision made.....gonna do it.....please pray for a successful surgery AND great results from the adjustments they make to her intrarcranial pressure. If they can get that tweaked just right, her brain wont have to work as hard as it is to do all the things shes doing.
I know there is soooo much for you all to pray for in your lives, I feel a little guilty asking for more. So if you can, just say Samanthas name tonight and tomorrow morning. God knows what she needs. Just say her name. I have faith that He is listening!