David's SCI Treatment Blog

Shenzhen Day 4-7 log, 9/6/06

September 8th, 2006

Hello everyone!

Wow, have we got a few things to share in this blog! David has been having rehab twice a day which includes massage, accupucture, exercise, occupational therapy, standing board etc. Very much hands on treatment here in China, something that has been lost in Western Medicine, and technology has taken over.

Well, Monday, 1 hour before his first stem cells he was reclined in his wheelchair, and Norma and I were sitting in his room chatting. All of a sudden David sat straight up in his chair from a reclined position! Norma and I looked at each other and I ran over to David and his eyes were bugging out of his head! Out of the clear blue he just sat straight up! He scared himself! It was so amazing! David can do a forward bend from a sitting position in his wheelchair, but he has never been able to do a sit up from a reclined position! After we all got temporarily over the shock of it all, Norma and I ran and grabbed the video and the still camera and said David, do it again. He did! Over and over. He wasn’t able to go as straight as that first time but he did it. In rehab. the last 2 mornings he has done it on the flat rehab. table over and over and sits straight up! He is also turning himself with assistance onto his side.

I am telling you there is something that wants to wake up there!
He had his first stem cell treatment about 3:30 on Monday 9/4 and he had to lay flat in bed for 5-6 hours. He did well. His back was sore because he had a lumbar puncture, but other than that we have seen no side effects.

We realized also today that David is having minimal if any lower extremety spasms. Used to be any time we moved him around he would spasm without fail. Even on Baclofen. Those spasms have nearly stopped! David also says that his pain is 50% less. He needed pain medication at least 2-4 times a day. Today, he didn’t take any!

Sometimes the changes seem so suttle, but they are there. With all the combined therapies offered here, it is definitely a winning combination of therapies that seem to be working for David. David works hard in therapy when he is there, and he is benefiting from it all. It is too early to tell just what is happening but we are on the cutting edge and breaking new gounds here.

They had Dave stand on the standing board, and he loved it. He smiled the whole time. He said he could breath much better, and it just felt good. He was a little sore tonight because he is not used to it. We had to leave his shoes on because his lower extremeties are very weak, and his ankles want to turn. Dave had the sensation that he could stand, even though he could not really feel if his feet were totally flat. He loved that sensation of standing and what a great thrill. Those of us who stand just take it for granted.
Dave went to the park beside the hospital where he basked in the humid and hot ShenZhen sun, and he loved every minute of it. Norma and I were dying from the heat, but old Davey boy just couldn’t get enough of it. It was nice for him to get outside.

So many little stories to tell, and I am sure Dave will fill everyone in when he gets home.
Best wishes to all!

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