Still waiting in Tampa

We are still waiting here in Tampa, although expect to fly to Mexico either tomorrow or the day after. Emma's participation in the research programme has now been approved by all of the team here in the USA, Dr Cantu (San Jose Hospital, Monterrey) and his University's International Research Board. There is one more remaining box to be ticked and it is gaining approval from the Ethics Committee at the San Jose Hospital, which we think is more of a formality.

Dr Cantu is currently working on getting a team together for Emma's 24hr care and it is likely she will be admitted this coming Sunday to the Intensive Care Unit at the San Jose Hospital.

We have had a couple of quiet days here, mostly in the hotel room as it is wet outside but still remains very warm with increasing humidity around 85%.

Bye for now.

Videos from the Acoustic, Jazz & Blues Concert

Hi,
I've just put the videos of Emma's songs from the Acoustic, Jazz & Blues concert onto Youtube. Video quality is not so good but we hope you get the idea!

Here are the links.
In Flames
Breathe

TURTLES!!!!! :P

We went to the Florida Aquarium today, BEST DAY EVER!!!!
Saw lots of turtles!!!!!! I really wanted to steal them all... but didn't think they'd appreciate that too much. Also saw a few cute little tortoises! One of them was walking round his enclosure and kept walking into a bird. The bird didn't really appreciate this and it pecked him on the head... and then he did it again, so two pecks on the head for him. Poor tortoise
:(
We haven't heard word yet from mexico so just waiting for the all clear.
Love to you all x

Dad's Video on Tampa Lizards

Well, here it is! Dad's video on a Tampa Lizard.
Here you see a Brown Anole Male lizard showing his dewlep (red/orange thing)
Apparently they do this to show their "macho-ness". Either when there's a female around or as a warning to threats. The bobbing is also a sign that you're getting 2 close!! Dad "composed" the music.. haha.
Hope you enjoy :P

See Tampa Lizards on Youtube

Lizard Spotting

Today Mum, Dad and I went out lizard spotting to try and get good pictures of lizards. We found some lizards posing on the lamp posts in the car park right outside the hotel! The lizards were sunbathing so we were able to take quite a few pictures of them. They do this cool thing with their necks and this yellow/red thing comes out and back in, we think it may be a warning to us that we're getting 2 close as they only appeared to do it when we were getting really close to them.. not sure though. I'll attach some photos of them doing this! We were outside for about half an hour at 10am before it got way 2 hot to stay outside. Dad videoed a lizard doing this cute little dance, head wiggle thing. Hopefully we'll be able to get it on youtube!
Lots of love,
Emma x

Tampa (Day 6)

To date, everything has gone really well for us. Emma's evaluation and testing was quite hard on her but that part is now done. From a research point of view, it was really important to have a base-line to accurately measure improvements. We have now completed everything required of us and Dr Kirkpatrick has recommended Emma for the ketamine coma study. Not everyone that asks to participate in the study is accepted, however luckily for Emma, other than her RSD she is really healthy and has youth on her side. We are waiting now for Dr Cantu in Monterrey to review the tests and also to approve Emma's participation. We are hoping to hear something in the next few days, so we will keep you posted!

After the coma, Emma will need to do regular hydrotherapy exercises, so she tried the hotel pool today to see if she could tolerate the temperature, and although the water is hard for her (she is super sensitive to all touch), she managed to stay in for a couple of minutes. The temperature of the pool is very warm, so it may work out well for her excises post-coma.

Lizards

Yesterday (16th) and Today (17th) we went to Dr. Kirkpatrick's. I had more pain threshold tests :( so that my results can be determined more accurately. Dr Kirkpatrick also videoed me asking me questions and getting me to do exercises. This video should be up on his website in the next few days for everyone to see. After the coma at 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months he will video me again doing the same exercises to note any improvements.
I also had a cognitive test with Dr Hoffman; this test is part of the research study to prove that ketamine doesn't affect the brain. Patients so far have either stayed the same or improved in their cognitive ability. They have improved because they are no longer in such a high level of pain and are able to concentrate. The test was repeating numbers and words after him, drawing pictures, repeating stories with the same use of language as him, etc.
Now to the exciting stuff.... LIZARDS!!!! They are really cute. They're about 5cm long and really, really quick. They scuttle over the pavements, much too fast to catch one. However, saw 2 today that were still. But as soon as we moved... they'd gone :( I'm going to try and get a good photo of them, but haven't been able to as of yet.
Also, Mum & Dad let me go 2 the mall 2day!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!
I'm missing everyone in New Zealand lots!
It's still really hot here; 99 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about 37 degrees Celsius. But it's started to rain and I think may have just heard thunder.
Love to you all!
Emma x