Well, today is my 3rd and final stem cell infusion. This time it’s an IV instead of a lumbar infusion. Also, my mom is letting me put a little message on the blog.
My time spent here in China has been such an adventure! Just yesterday, a bunch of us went to a spa. They combined massaged head to toe using pressure points to the feet and legs. After we had our hair washed and head messaged. We also for the first time had our ears cleaned and toned. It was quite the experience.
Today, I’ve done
September 4th, 2007
Hello to all, hope everyone is doing well. It has been a while since I wrote last, sorry. Jessie will be getting her third spinal injection today; she is not looking forward to that at all mostly because she has to lie still for six hours post infusion. Spoke with the doctor and asked if she would benefit from an intravenous infusion for last treatment and he had planned on that already. He explained that having one systemically would allow the muscles and nerves outside the brain a chance to heal and hopefully the end result in a few months will be for her to walk with little assistance. Our goal would be for her to walk without assistance and for her speech to improve. Jessie has made some improvements in her gait and speech. Yesterday evening we as group went to Pizza Hut and there was not a ramp to role up on so she walked up three steps holding on to my arms in front of her. Usually when she uses me for support she holds on so tight that we both tend to wobble, not this time, she barely held on and walked up the stairs so smoothly that I wasn’t sure if she even needed me for support. Things seem to happen when you list expect them to. My mother also received stem cells for her rheumatoid arthritis last Monday. She will get two treatments total. She saw the wonderful things these stem cells were doing for people and thought she might benefit from them. She awoke the next morning after the intravenous infusion feeling great. Her hands were less swollen and she was able to get up out of bed without being hunched over. She felt so good that I believe she ready to sign up anyone and everyone for treatment. She will get her next treatment this Friday. WE will be leaving China Aug. 7th. , and stopping in Korea for a week to visit with my mothers’ sister then its back to the states. We are looking forward to going home, although we have met some great people who made our stay in China a most wonderful experience. Good bye for now and love to all our friends an family, Linda and Jessie
August 29th, 2007
Hello everyone, hope you all are well. It’s been two day since her treatment and things are going well. She still having leg cramps and she seems to be tired more easily. My thoughts are that the stem cells are doing their job. When Jessie was first hurt I remember the doctors telling me that it took a lot more energy to heal a brain then any other part of the body. Other wise she is doing well. We’ve gone out on some outings, but Hangzhou as well as other cities in China are not wheelchair friendly, so it’s been a challenge for all of here to get around. Yes we have done some shopping, can’t go some where with Jessie and not shop that just wouldn’t be natural no matter how tired she gets. There are some bargains to be had but for the most part it is about the same as USA.
Mom is going to have stem cell therapy while she is here. The doctors seem to think that stem cells help her type of problems with more success and in shorter period of time then nerve damaged patients. Hope it works, even if it means a year without pain it would be worth it. Well I’ll let you all know how it turns out.
Keep safe and our love to all,
Linda and Jessie
PS. Michael and Ryan, glad to hear classes are going well for both of you. I’m so proud you are doing so well at home and at school. Miss you both so much. Can’t wait to see you soon.
August 24th, 2007
Hello all, hope all are well. Well sorry I haven’t updated, but we hadn’t much to report. Jessie had her second treatment today, same as before in her spine. Procedure isn’t bad she says except for the having to stay on her back for 6hrs. But all this seems worth it to her. Since her firsts treatment we have seen slight but definite improvements in her upper arm dexterity and she has been eating with her right hand more, she ate with chop sticks and did not drop food all over herself, she has been able to drink without a straw, taking large gulps, and the most impressive is she walked with a platform cane yesterday with very little assistance from her therapist. So I guess she has made some great improvements. One of the American staff here who records all the events minor to major, told me today that he noticed that her movements seem to be much smoother.
The biggest problem Jessie has had is leg cramps. The doctor gave her some medication for it but it only helped a little. This seems to be common for a lot of the patients that have ataxia and has had spinal infusions. The doctor felt that it was a good side effect, because the neuro pathways are starting to re-establish. Also I mentioned to the doctor she used chop sticks to eat with and he was very glad to hear that. He said the reason Asians were so smart is because we ate with chop sticks, it requires more brain function that just fork and knife. Didn’t mean to offended anyone but there may be some truth in that :).
I will try to keep you all posted more often. Our love to all,
Linda and Jessie
August 22nd, 2007
Saturday August 18th - Jessie had her first stem cell treatment yesterday. She had a lumbar infusion that only took about 15 min., after which she received growth factor through an IV in her hand. She had to lay flat on her back most of the night, and also had about 1 liter of fluids. She did very well, no real complication except a minor head ache today, but all the PT patients who had injection this way seem to have had slight head aches. Mom went with a group to Shanghai today, figured she needed a break from us and to do some sightseeing. We are hoping to do some ourselves on Sunday, maybe do some shopping. Anyway, thanks for all your good thoughts and prayers. I will continue posting, hopefully something more eventful in Jessie’s condition. I’m still optimistic that some good things will come out of his.
August 19th, 2007
We are finally here! Today is our second day here Aug 16,2007. Jessie has had her first PT day which included acupuncture. She said it did not hurt and she regained slightly more sensation than before, how amazing is that! Can’t wait to see what is next. We’ll keep all of you posted.
Much love,
Linda and Jessie
July 31st, 2007
