Archive for April, 2009
This is our last day in China. Jim has done his physical therapy and again the doctors are telling him they think he is stronger. I am even starting to notice more strength in his legs. One thing that has certainly improved is his allergies. Normally his eyes run until he can’t see the ground and he sneezes 40 times a day. We have had none of that for a couple of weeks. At first we thought we might need to get a humidifier when we get home. We were attributing it to the humidity here. I don’t think that is it at all. I think the stem cells are kicking in. Should be able to tell more about that when we get home.
We have been able to talk to Roy and Ed, Carol and Mom along with a few other people on Skype and that has been a very good thing. Can actually see them and know that all is well. You guys with your emails and comments on the Blog have certainly helped us over the hump as well. A great big thank you to all of you.
We leave here at 6:00 am and are looking at about 31 and a half hours to get us home. That is going to be a real fun day! We are not looking forward to the Beijing Airport. That is the biggest place I have ever seen. I’m sure it was greatly expanded for the Olympics. Roy said he had to take a bus and a train to get to the International terminal. The only thing that will save us is that we have requested a wheelchair and the young lady with the wheelchair hopefully will know where to take us. If not, I guess we’ll find a place to obtain a permanent resident card.
Heading Home
They encourage us to continue posting to the Blog when we get home as we see improvement so we will be updating from time to time. Just not nearly as often.
Jim is getting his last electric wave treatment and acupuncture. It is 73 degrees here today. Time to go downstairs and take a walk. They have lots of trees planted around the hospital and little cement paths. The forsythia is blooming as well as some beautiful pink blossoms on some trees. Remind me of cherry blossoms. Don’t know if that is what they are or not. The willow trees are greening up so I’m sure it is going to be beautiful here by the end of the month.
April 8th, 2009
Yesterday we hired a van with the Canadian couple, their two boys, Perry from Australia, Amanda, one of our interpreters and Jim and I. We went to downtown Qingdao to Jimo Road Market which is a huge indoor marketplace where the Chinese shop. It consists of many many little booths where they hawk their wares. it is much like our flea markets but it is a permanent thing. Of course very few people have cars so people arrive all day long in taxis. Everyone from grandma to very small children. No one over 70 years of age is allowed a driver’s license and I can certainly understand why. Your reflexes must be excellent to drive here. At any rate this market is three floors and there must have been everything made in China displayed. Most notable are booth after booth of knock-off watches basically Rolex, pearls of every kind and color and in many strings from which you can choose your pearls and have them strung. We also saw lots of jade. There were many booths containing decorations for your hair – very sparkly and colorful.
Jim and I spent an hour or so sitting on a bench outside just watching people. The young people get all dressed up to go shopping. All of the young girls wear boots to the knee with high heels and most everyone wears leather jackets. It was interesting to see all of the western dress. We did not see a single traditionally dressed person. If the men aren’t wearing leather jackets they are in sport coats. The women are all in western jeans but they are usually decorated down the leg or on the pockets with embroidery or sparkles.
Watching people at the beach
The most interesting thing is the ride there and back. It takes approximately an hour each way. Jim was riding copilot and his knuckles were white. His only comment when we got back was “Well we cheated death one more time.”
After our shopping spree we went again to the Yellow Sea. They refer to it as the seashore which it is. We went back to May Fourth Square which is where that big red sculpture is and to Zhan Pier. Our last visit when Roy was here was on a weekday. This time we went on Sunday and couldn’t believe the people. I guess when you spend your life in a high rise apartment you go to the seashore or the park whenever you can. Thousands of Chinese people everywhere you look.
Pagoda on Yellow Sea
Back at the hospital today the interpreter (Lucy) tells me that this is a three-day holiday called “Tomb Sweeping Day.” Apparently it compared to our Memorial Day. It is a day to honor the dead. Lucy said during this holiday they eat steamed eggs and bean curd and leeks. Think I’ll pass. Oh yes, another thing – they sell “100 year old eggs” in the little stores downstairs. Again, I’ll pass. We just heard a lot of fireworks going off. I asked Lucy about it and that is part of the celebration to honor the dead. They don’t wait until dark, just let ‘er rip. We could see the clear flashes from the window.
Roy's ghost in China
You might wonder at the names of our caregivers here as I did. They take an American name of their choice to make it easier for us. Jack and Lucy both told me what their Chinese names are and they are right – it is much easier for us to manage the American names.
Jim has a free day today as his physical therapist (Jason) is off today. He will go back to his regular routine tomorrow and Wednesday and then we head for the airport at 6:00 am on Thursday.
April 6th, 2009
Jim received his last treatment at 4:50 pm. He is in his lay flat for six hours stage. He normally doesn’t make the full 6 hours but has always made 5. He gets rather cranky when he has been flat on his back that long. The correct terminology for this is “Lumbar Puncture Stem Cell Transplantation”.
I was reading an article today and I will quote from that article as I think you will find this information interesting. “The USA is 12 years behind because they don’t want to use embryonic stem cells. China is not using embryos because they are not as good as the umbilical or the adult stem cells. Beike is a biotechnology company that is contracted to provide stem cells for treatment at 24 hospitals in China.” The facility where we are staying is Qingdao Chengyang District People’s Hospital. “They have been commercially treating people since 2005, so there is no long-term information on the results.” The stem cells are infused into the spine by performing a spinal tap where they will tap the existing fluid out and inject the stem cells into the spine. They must lay flat for six hours to let the infusion migrate to the brain.” The success of the treatments depends on doing daily therapy to train the new neurons to perform. Beike says that it will take up tp six months for the stem cells to engraft and the final results of the procedure to be revealed.” This was in a newspaper clipping I found and I don’t know what paper it is from.
On to some other interesting information I discovered today. The huge center being built across the street that houses the market I referred to earlier is coming along nicely. There are many, many shops, restaurants etc. going in. The signs say “Waiting for You” which I took to mean coming soon. Two of them that we could recognize are Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonalds. The complex takes up the entire city block. Behind the shopping center they are building a hugh amusement park and I was told it is the largest amusement park in Asia. There is a huge steel dome we can see over the top of the center and they are welding in it all day long. They also pour concrete everywhere day in and day out. That would be an excellent investment over here. The whole complex is scheduled to be open in August. This may not be a tourist city now but “If we build it they will come”.
April 3rd, 2009
Well today is April Fool’s Day and if you think that is just an American thing – think again. Jack – remember the picture of Jack and the other translators – is in his element. He started early this morning and is having a great time.
Jim did real well in physical therapy today. Jason kept high-fiving him and telling him in what little English he knows how well he was doing. After he got back to our room, we got the Professor and his contingent of doctors. They have Jim lay down and all gather around. The Professor puts him through some simple exercises and then lectures to the other doctors. The Professor told him he was making progress. Jim asked if he was going to get the use of his right arm back. They Professor nodded and told him he has to exercise every day and he feels sure he will get it back. (certainly hope that is the case). As we reported before, they say the stem cells are active and splitting and working for a year so who knows what can be accomplished with a little work.
I must tell you about the school kids here. There must be a school down the street from here because the kids go by morning and night. They are all in the same clothing so I assume that is a uniform. They have dark blue pants with a stripe down the leg and white jackets with a blue stripe. Male and female. Some are riding bycicles, some are jogging, some just walking and a few riding on the back of a motorbike. None of them are being driven and dropped off at the front door by mom and dad. They go toward the school (and from the look of them, I am assuming they are junior high age) at 6:30 am and they go back toward home at 6:00 pm. How is that for a day at school? I don’t think half of that day is spent in football practice either. We saw one gentleman riding a 3-wheel bike with something that looked like a pickup bed on the back. A youngster was sitting in the bed, back to his father, and what was he doing? Reading a book! They really put a great deal of emphasis on learning. I think some people had better start looking this over and taking a lesson from it.
Oh, another thing. Kite flying is very big over here. How long has it been since you were out flying a kite? I think Roy got a good picture of one when we were at the seashore. They were flyng all over the place. Really interesting looking kites.
Child's Kite
April 1st, 2009
