ROBOT & DEER

This is the story of Robot and Deer

SAN FRANCISCO—Robot was born at 5 lbs. in the year 2009. It was my birthday and the year my friends all pitched in to buy me a city bicycle. I was living in Noe Valley (hence, Noe's name), and I was really into robots at the time. A friend I danced with in the company (San Francisco Ballet) gave me Robot as a birthday gift. I never bothered to ask what was his intended use, but I was pretty sure he was a bookend or doorstop. Nonetheless, I cherished him.

Over a decade later, the girls discovered Robot in my closet. They played with him a little and then soon forgot about him. So, up he went back onto his shelf. Months later, they rediscovered him and Vienna became attached. Originally, she was attached to two stuffed worms (a mommy and a baby), so I thought we were set in regards to finding her favorite stuffed animal. Unfortunately, I was wrong. She quickly traded in her two worms (she actually thought they were snakes because she loves snakes) for 5-lb. Robot. Since then, Robot has gone through multiple security check points (thankfully, he has never been confiscated or dissected, but we have been very close to unintentionally leaving him in Thailand) and traveled to nearly every city and country with Vienna.

Side note: the two worms are Beanie Babies named "Inch." For all you Beanie Baby collectors, you will probably remember the little guy. The miniature version was the one from a McDonald's Happy Meal from decades ago. My sister and I each have a set; but, since we could only find one Mama worm to our two baby worms and Noe really wanted a set, too, I hunted one down and found a lady who was willing to give me hers. Bless her heart. It was the first time I ever did a "Mom" thing like that (and also when I hunted down a second gum ball machine sweatshirt).

MARTINEZ—Deer was born in 2019 (about a decade after Robot) weighing in under 1 lb. I wish I could remember who gave the girls Deer (I think it was one of Brad's kind Residents that he worked with in San Francisco) because I would love to tell them how loved Deer truly is. Although much younger than Robot, Deer has already experienced more than many can say they've experienced in a lifetime.

Back in 2022, Noe was showing symptoms of abdominal pain. Logically, I considered constipation or nervousness (while trying not to let my PICU nurse brain leap to the critical situations we witness in the hospital everyday). However, when it started hurting more consistently and so bad that, when Brad and I were on a little weekend getaway, my Mom called and told me that Noe kept taking naps and not eating or playing, we knew something was not right. We rushed home immediately and I took her to the Emergency Department.

Fast forward through multiple phone calls, visits, lab draws, ultrasounds, pain medication, and an MRCP, we found out that Noe had a choledochal cyst (appx. 2.5 cm) that would need to be removed. In September of 2022 (right before our trip to Thailand), Noe had her gall bladder (she still pronounces it "galall bladder") and common bile duct removed. I won't go into further details because that's a whole chapter on its own, but the surgery was a success (thank you to the amazing team at Kaiser Oakland) and Noe was so brave. I was ready to be with her through all her fears, nervousness, and mix of emotions (even though I, myself, was in bits inside); but, she really was just so brave.

All this to say, Deer was by her side the whole time. If I hadn't persuaded her to remove Deer's bandages to give it a bath, Deer surely would still have bandages, gauze, tape, and Coban wraps too numerous to count. I believe Deer even had its own blood pressure cuff and hospital socks at some point, too. Deer really helped Noe through her toughest times and remains her closest companion (after her sister, of course).

Now, as we embark on our world adventures, Robot & Deer remain loyal and true companions.

With love,

Grandma of Robot & Deer

Disclaimer: our minds often remember what we want to remember or remember differently than the actual scenario. All dates and details are from my deepest memories (perfectly accurate or not).