More Photos
The Chinese can pack much into their space.
1 comment October 23rd, 2008
The Joke is on Me
Before leaving for China, my daughter, Brecca, loaned me her manual can opener. Upon packing it I read “Made in China” on the handle so I returned it telling her that I was sure I could find one in China- thanks anyway. Well, I brought canned ham and chicken and went to the kitchen here to open one of the cans…only can opener was a rusty old thing that does not work properly. I took Brad to the RT-Mart today in pursuit of a clean new can opener. There was none. The translator told me when I returned that the Chinese do not use canned food hence there is no need of a can opener. Ha!
Today the patient advocate, Luca, told me that he would get the video man, Alf, an American who has lived here 4 yrs (he married a Chinese girl),to video Brad while he has his therapies. This way I can have a record to take back to the states not only in writing, but visually to show Americans exactly
what Brad needs when we return.
He and I returned to the tea house and had green tea, watermelon and sunflowers seeds again. It is a delight!
He worked very hard in all his therapies. Today was Kerri’s birthday-she is the cute therapist whose photo is on this blog. He gave her his Montevallo sweatshirt and then asked for a hug. She embraced him warmly.
5 comments October 21st, 2008
Monday, Oct 20th
Today Brad had three of his therapies. James was gracious enough to include acupuncture even though it was not scheduled. He and Brad laugh as he inserts the needles. Today he teasingly acted as if he would let Brad insert a needle himself. Instead of 26 needles we are back to 23 again. If I understood James correctly, the physical therapy and standing therapy HAVE to be given to Brad before he can have the acupuncture. He then had his 4th SCT in the lumbar area. No side effects-there is gratitude. I am praying for these stem cells to cross the blood brain barrier into his cerebellum. This is the area of his brain that has atrophied. From what I have been taught, these cells have the ability to differeniate into neural cells in the brain. A blessing today is that Dr. Mike, the head doctor, gave me a moment of his time. He approved the 5th SCT the 27th of Oct- this will be IV. He also told me that it will be important for Brad to continue this therapy in the states…he will give us an order for the 4 treatments. We have already located a Chinese doctor in Anniston that practices acupuncture. Dr. Mike told me that though we are not seeing much improvement now, the effects of SCT & BMT will last for 75 days after we get home. Having just finished The Shack, the last chapter quotes Oswald Chambers, “Faith never knows where it is being lead But it knows and loves the One who is leading”. This describes my persective of this journey Brad and I are on…though we do not know the outcome, we know the One who is leading. Hallelujah! Pray that we would love Him more deeply. Shi Shi Ne
4 comments October 20th, 2008
West Lake
Today on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Lee, a driver here, took Brad and me to the West Lake. There is a causeway one can walk across and watch the people and boats. Mr. Lee left us and we said to meet at the hotel at 3:30 PM. Along our stroll I asked several people, even an English speaking one, where the hotel was. If they didn’t understand me I folded my hands under my ear and pretended to be asleep. No one knew so we kept walking to the other end of the causeway. There on top of a hill was The Shangri-La Hotel. We waited for over an hour for Mr. Lee. We saw him pass by twice by could not flag him down. I finally went to the hotel lobby where they spoke English. They were kind enough to call the hospital and ask for the 20th floor. We got Rebecca, the translator, on the phone. She told me she would call Mr. Lee’s cell phone and tell him to go to the Shangri-La Hotel. When I got back to Brad, he and Mr. Lee were in his car and let me in. Mr. Lee explained that he had the police looking for us. They had also passed by us but never stopped. Adventure….next time I go out I will take the phone number of the hospital with me. Just glad the police didn’t pick us up!!!
2 comments October 19th, 2008
Saturday, Oct 18th
Jeanine Bell left today..we miss her already. Brad has finished his 24 hours in bed. He’s at the computer beside me doing good. He is sore, but not in pain. We are considering a 5th treatment because we are here and have to time to do so. #4 is Monday the 20th. Friday, the 24th is when he gets his own bone marrow back….all these are lumbar injections which require the 6 hours on his back-head on the mattress- not even a pillow. Brad has exemplified a courageous man with lots of perserverence. Tonight is a birthday party for a 1year old beautiful child from London who has CP.
1 comment October 18th, 2008
Bone Marrow Transplant- Oct. 16th
Hi friends and family,
Thanks so much for your prayers for this important day. Jeanine Bell was with me during Brad’s surgery which was much comfort to me. We followed him down to the floor of the OR and even got to go with him behind the first double doors. There the translator told me that they were checking his chart to see if he had any allergies. While we were standing there a nurse came out of the OR area with a bag- inside was part of a bloody body part. Brad was then wheeled away and we were escorted back to our room for about 80 minutes. This was Brad’s first time in an operating room- a little intimidating when you don’t speak English. Dr. Mary went with him. He had to lay flat again for 6 hours, but now has his head elevated. We saw the needles they extracted the marrow with..in fact there were 3 in a bag on his bed. Dr. Mary was relieved when we returned them. Pizza Hut is his food tonight since he hasn’t eaten all day. The hospital sends someone out to get it for us and bring it back in. In fact every day at lunch and dinner we are asked what we want to order. Brad has to stay in his bed til 12 noon tomorrow. We are hoping to go out Sunday. We feel so much love and concern from all of you. You will never know how great it is to hear from home being this far away…thank you for taking the time to write.
Want to share a photo of Kerri, Brad’s therapist who gives him the electrowave therapy. They are very kind to Brad.
4 comments October 17th, 2008
Photos of treatments
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words…notice the 3 acupuncture needles in Brad’s throat.
Add comment October 16th, 2008
American Food in China
McDonald’s In WuShan Square
Hangzhou, China
Night before last Brad had no leg pain (Praise the Lord!) and asked me to drive him (in wheelchair) to KFC. He decided to get a #6. Before we left the hospital, I had the translator write ck nuggets in Chinese. While we were in line, the manager, a smartly dressed woman in a suit and high heels, came and showed me a pictorial menu. I showed her the paper with my order written in Chinese. Brad got two wings and two drummettes in an open box..at first it looked as if it was almost raw meat. We also got nuggets, fries and Pepsi. He ate it all! When he got out of the wheelchair he almost fell getting into the chair at the table. An employee came and grabbed him to prevent the fall. I said, “Oh Thank you!”. He replied, “My pleasure” with so much enthusiasm that I think he truly meant it…he was grinning ear to ear. When we went to leave the same man helped him back into the chair and another held the door. These people are very kind!
Brad had no leg pain on Tuesday. Wednesday was his third SCT in the lumbar area. He was not asleep after receiving his Valium IV when the nurse came to get his bed and wheel him into the “tx room”. Her eyes got VERY big and she kept telling him, “Sleep, sleep”. He told me that he was awake duing the procedure. Felt no pain- only a tingling sensation. He did well during the 6 hours of keeping his head flat on the mattress. Got up and ate Pop Tarts and more KFC nuggets. The therapist told him he was weak on Wednesday however other patient’s caregivers told me that they thought they saw improvement. I can see that he is moving with less rigidity and is more fluid.
Oh, no mouse. The trap is a piece of cardboard 8″ x 10″ with glue smeared on it. I told the translator, Johnny, that it is his when and if we get a mouse.
Blessings, the air-conditioner was turned back on yesterday!
8 comments October 16th, 2008
A Smile is Universal
Everyone understands a smile. In another culture it is sometimes the only way I can communicate. Today has brought smiles. The air-conditioner has been turned off for the season. This hospital has big windows in each room that spans the room left to right and from the ceiling to the floor; the sun pours in making the rooms hot. Thank the Lord that there is a fan…it works for 60 minutes and then automatically turns off. Another smile came when the translator told us that room 11 had a mouse so they brought a mousetrap to each room. More smiles came when I discovered Free Cell and Spider Solitaire on this PC- it is written in Chinese, but the symbols for the game are the same. This is my vise so I’m happy. Brad has done well today. In PT he had to stand straight up without holding on to a bar with his knees not bent. The therapist held his hands but was able to let go more than once. : )
4 comments October 14th, 2008
New Therapy Added
Last night was a bad night for Brad with leg cramps and pain again. This time he said it went to the bone. I gave him Ibuprofen at 6:00PM. At 8:30PM we were talking to the doctor as the pain had not let up. He ordered heat therapy-the nurse had me dampen one of our towels and she drapped his lumbar site with the towel and then a heat lamp. At 10:00 PM after heat and massage, he finally went to sleep and had a restful night. So far today he has not had that pain. I hired a massage therapist who was a guy about Brad’s age. He started on his face and worked down to Brad’s calves and turned him over and massaged that whole side. Brad found it to be so relaxing that we have asked him to come back tomorrow. He charges 70 RMB’s for 1 hour which is ~ $10.00 When Brad had acupuncture today I counted 100 twitches per minute that were occuring in his arms and thighs. One woman said his muscles are waking up. She explained that when her daughter’s muscles “woke up” they hurt also…although her daughter, who broke her neck at age 17, had not had use of her muscles for 27 years. Can you image being able to feel that you have a shirt on after 27 years of not feeling it? That was last year for this family when they went to the Chinese Northern Army Hospital. This year, here in Hangzhou, this woman is having the sensation beginning to come back in her legs. Wow! What one sees here is incredible. Patients are here with MS, ALS, SCI and brain injuries from car wrecks. Italy, Romania, Canada, Australia,UK, Venezuela, Chinese
Americans and Americans from Kentucky, Florida and Arkansas are here now.
3 comments October 13th, 2008
