September 15, 2008
Hi friends and family!
Everything is going very good with Jillian. IN FACT……she has something new she is doing! Always before, when she would clap her hands, it was always with her thumbs tucked inside her closed fists. So she would hit her closed hands together. Yesterday, as I was trying to get her to sleep and she was all relaxed, she took both hands and “clapped,” very clumsily, her open palms together. Yes, the right hand too; which if anyone knows her, her right hand is closed tight a lot….she kind of uses it as a stabilizer, so to speak. Well, it was so cute and momentus, because she too realized she was doing something she couldn’t do before. She looked up at me with a small smile, as if to say, “Mom, look what my hands can do!” I said, “I see, honey! You’re clapping with your hands open! Congratulations!” She was very proud and kept doing it. Of course, that messsed up any chance of taking a nap…..but that’s okay. She’s usually been able to do it when asked to……most of the time. She has been using her right hand a little more, for instance, to turn a page in a book.
I asked Dr. Tony this morning if it is common to see something so soon after a stem cell injection, and what he said was that it is not necessarily the stem cells, but it is the “elements” or “components” of the stem cells more or less triggering the nervous system, something about gathering all the stem cells together. (?)Now, remember that there is a degree of a language barrier in conversations. But it was said that It is a very good sign!
I also discovered just a little bit ago that Jillian’s brain injury is a little bit more than I had always thought for these past four years. I always just thought it was in the left ventricle only, but I have been told this morning that in fact it is in both ventricles. But he said this is common in cerebral palsy, and that she should still respond well to the stem cell treatment.
Also I am told that her first spinal injection COULD be tomorrow. They will let me know in the morning. That is Tuesday morning for me (Monday night for you). I’ll let you all know as soon as I find out. If it is indeed that she is getting the spinal tomorrow, then I will make sure to throw on a quick post so you all can include her in your prayers before she “goes to sleep” and receives the procedure.
Okay, she has fallen asleep while I was writing this post (Thank God! finally!), so I am going to run (walk) quickly to the grocery store and let LaLa keep an eye on her meanwhile. Gotta get there and get back quickly, so I gotta sign off and say bye-bye! Love you all!
Remember that I’m still not able to retrieve comments…….but I will be able to once they fix whatever is going on with this silly thing.
All right! Love to everybody! Have a great day!!!!!
Love,
Tami and Jillian (and Carole too)
12 comments September 15th, 2008
