David's SCI Treatment Blog

Bonvoyage

May 23rd, 2008

Hi Everyone, The time has finally arrived for my return trip to China for my second round of stemcell treatments.  My LPN, Norma, who was with me last time,  and I will be departing April 28^th and returning June 11^th.  I’ve had to postpone my trip twice in 2007, first due to a bad infection and second, due to falling out of my shower chair and breaking my ankle.  The facility I will be going to is in Quindao which is in Northern China.  I thought it would be warm by now, but the temperature there has been ranging from only 50 – 70 degrees which, being a Florida boy, is WAY to cold for me.   I’ve made all the travel arrangements by myself this time.   From dealing with flight connections and layovers, to accommodating all my medical equipment and everything in between, it has been a very stressful but eye opening experience.  I have found renewed appreciation for the time and commitment put forth by my brother Paul and his wife Sally who organized and accompanied me on my trip in 2006.  You have to plan for the worse and hope for the best.   I never realized the complexity involved in planning and executing this type off trip.  I will be forever grateful for their help and guidance on my previous trip and what it has done in bringing me to this point of recovery.    I am also deeply grateful to the First Congregational Church in Lake Worth, Florida.  They have welcomed me into their church and touched my heart and sole in a way I have never felt before.  They dedicated part of the service and a hymn to my farewell while mom and dad were there.  It was moving and brought tears to all of us.  They had sponsored a fundraiser on my behalf, which raised enough money to cover the cost of my stemcell treatments.  I am incredibly blessed to have a church family as wonderful as them.  I am so grateful to everyone f or their generosity and messages of hope and prayer.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.   Just to bring everyone up to date, I’m back in the pool doing aqua therapy and am able to walk across the pool, turn around and walk all the way back on my own.  This is a huge accomplishment since my treatment there last September.  My vision has improved tremendously.  I can read my computer screen pretty easily and am able to read menus, etc, and see people more clearly.  I am able to drive my wheelchair a hundred percent of the time which has given me a great new sense of independence.  I am hoping to gain more vision and hand and wrist control so I am able to feed myself and do more things on my own.  With some luck and a little help from God, I feel I can accomplish my goals.  The Quindao facility is brand new and caters to spinal cord injury patients.  I will be receiving a total of eight treatments, five by lumbar puncture and 3 by IV.  This will give me a total of almost a billion new stemcells.  Unlike my last visit in Chenzen, the new facility will have a hoyer lift and a handicap van.  Paul, Sally and Norma had to do all the back breaking work last time.  These conveniences will greatly reduce a lot of the physical work.  Martin, who was my physical therapy doctor in 2006 also moved from Chenzen to the new facility in Quindao which will enable us to pick up where we left off.  I am looking forward to seeing him again.  Quindao, which is a bustling coastal city is also hosting the 2008 olympics for the Sailing Regatta Competition.  It kicks off in July, but I’m sure they’ll be lots of activity and westerners in the surrounding area.  Hopefully it will warm up enough so I can enjoy some outdoor fun.  I will be calling Sally from China periodically and will be giving her updates on my progress.  Sally will be sending out broadcasts via my e-mail address.  She has a wonderful way of making everyone feel as if they are right there with you.  I will have my laptop in China and will be accessing my e-mail regularly.   Once again, I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and the incredible support that you all have given me on my journey towards recovery.   My best wishes to all of you. Dave

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