David's SCI Treatment Blog

Day one ShenZhen China 8/31/06

September 8th, 2006

Hello!

Here is the first update from ShenZhen!
We arrived safely in Hong Kong as planned. We were met by our driver as promised when we arrived. Grace had made the arrangements and the driver was there with the sign with David’s name on it just like she said. The employees at the Hong Kong airport were very helpful. They helped us until we had lifted Dave into the van, and were safely on our way.
The trip from Hong Kong to ShenZhen by car was beautiful. Hong Kong is nesstled in the valley at the bottom of a mountain range at the base of the ocean. Green mountains all around and blue water…clean and everyone very professional and helpful. English is a language spoken there.

Just a little about the arrival at the airport before I continue and forget. Our arrival at the airport was easy and seamless. We had 2 vans due to all our luggage and David’s 2 wheel chairs. David was lifted into the van by 4 of us, and it is the first time he has sat by himself in a van on the seat with just a seatbelt and not a wheelchair since his injury! We were then off to ShenZhen. I have a picture of Dave sitting in the back seat! He looks shocked and amazed!

ShenZhen is a very large city with 10 million people. We arrived at morning rush hour when you see everyone packed into buses, women walking on sunny days with umbrellas, bicycles everywhere with baskets, and large bottles of water on the back. It is like old city/new city all mixed into one. ShenZhen is a bustling city…and a typical city. Big city smells…..many to say the least! It is extremely warm and humid even early in the morning and early evening, and just plain hot in the middle of the day.

The hospital is located in the city center. The stem cell unit was moving the day we arrived from the 19th floor to the 14th floor due to the rapid increase in growth within the last 9 months. David and Norma’s room was not quite ready due to the move, but I must say the Chinese know how to get things done when they can understand what you need. The first 24 hours was a little different due to the language barriers, and cultural differences, but you adjust and that is just something that time and interaction seem to manage. Jon, has hired 5 very capable employees, who speak English and translate for us. I had bought a chinese/english dictionary, and we have learned to have the chinese write the phrases or words we need on index cards and we show them to the chinese when we need something when translators are not around and it has worked quite well. In the United State you can purchase the book at Barnes and Noble. The Chinese love the dictionary and always want to look at it. They chuckle when they see me pull it out of my purse and communicate! It just works!

David is a quad. c3-c4 who was injured on 5/25/02. He is an imcomplete injury. Initially he was on a ventilator for 9 months and successfully weaned off the ventilator and had his Trach. removed thanks to the weaning program at Craig Hospital.

David had his evaluation by the Dr. about 1 hour after we arrived. They were impressed with how much he has maintained and gained in the 4 years since his injury. They are hopeful with aggressive rehab that they can help David to stand. They did advise him to lose weight while he is here so that his legs can hold his weight more easily. Yesterday we were all exhausted by 6pm after the long flight and all fell asleep by 8pm.

Today, I ventured off to Walmart Super Center with a Chinese employee to get David the extras supplies he needed. While I was gone, he and Norma ventured out to lunch and then David was off to Occupational Therapy, and lab testing, EKG, and an EMG. He had a one hour IV of traditional chinese herbal medicine that is supposed to build up the support system for the stem cells. He will receive his first stem cells on Weds. our time, by lumbar puncture. They have to prepare the stem cells specifically for David. They are fresh not frozen stem cells. If he does not develop any side effects he will receive another treatment on Monday and Friday for example. It all depends on how he does. He has therapy everyday, except Sundays. Sunday is the Chinese day of rest.

What is amazing is that there are at least 4 other families here from the US, all with children of different ages and diagnosises. Norma and I could not beleive all the children in the rehab room. Usually you see, older people in there. There are alot of children here with different problems. There were 2 spinal cord injuries here but one left several days after we arrived. There is another spinal cord injury patient still here who extended his time hre by another month. When you look into the eyes of every patient and family here, they are all so full of hope. There are people here from everywhere. The word is out…..HOPE LIVES HERE.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and David will have his physical therapy, massage, accupuncture and occupational therapy. He is doing very well, and sends all his love to everyone, and thanks you for your prayers and support.

We hired a chinese male helper for Norma and that has made her life easier with the activities of daily living for David. He is smart as a whip and catches on so quickly. The language barrier is one that you can work through very quickly and set up a great routine.
Changes for some are greater than others, but everyone leaves here with something. They all come with hope and that hope becomes more reality than ever when they return home.

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