Archive for December 10th, 2008
Today started with blood work at 7:30 am….they want to make sure that you didn’t catch anything here! Soon after, regular electric wave treatment followed by a physio evaluation and report. They want to ensure that Kevin continues his progress. No accupuncture today….someone obviously got the message across!
Last night was not great for either us….I think I kept the mister up, coughing my head off and sniffling…this morning, Dr. Mary took one look at me and said, “it is time for some traditional chinese medicine”….soon, along came Casey with a box with 10 tiny vials of brown liquid, “take one now and every 8 hours until gone” ….how do I take it, Case? …I show you….in goes the tinest little straw….”now, drink…it tastes good”….Now, if I had a Yuan everytime I heard a Chinese person tell me that here……Ok….it wasn’t half bad if you like espresso (coffee). It was like a shooter of cafeine….but pretty sure it’s the root of something I don’t want to know about 
…..I spent the day packing suitcases, weighing them, repacking them….reweighing them…lol! ….cleaning out the cupboards, the fridge, etc. I gave Michael and Lisa (new in from Australia) all of our dishes, towels, food, can opener, etc…..it’s just life here……pass on what you’re not taking home…. Clarence went walking in West Lake and brought us our last (thank fattening goodness!) Starbucks hot chocolate grande! Some good today, boys o boys…..just what the doctor ordered….sort of….Kevin’s arm was still quite swollen so lots of extra attention on him….there are not a lot of patients here right now needing therapy as there are many here for blindness…..so 3 therapists worked on him all afternoon…..you know, he won’t be fit to live with! If I am over my baggage allowance, I know what I’m leaving behind
Alf came in today and shot a video of him talking as well as walking and some other physio….hates it when others are watching him….makes him nervous and he doesn’t do as well but everyone notices his improvements…..Leslie came for a visit after her physio and watched (was trapped in the room, really!) the interview….
Just got the doc’s report including physio. Cleared to go….lots of paper work today….satisfaction survey, evaluation of progress, and on and on…..
Lots of the nurses in today as they won’t see us again….a few tears…lots of hugs…
Miss Kitty
not sure if that is their custom but we don’t tend to give them a chance to back away. We have given everyone a small token of our appreciation and left a few “community gifts” as there are others that work here but not with the patients directly…..Louise wanted me to go for another foot massage but I was feeling pretty rotten and decided against it……She had a great time…had a guy this time around….knew I should ‘ve gone….. Time for bed….last night….ahhh…home again, home again, riggedy jig!
December 10th, 2008
Tuesday, December 9th
Today was a regular physio and doc rounds…nothing out of the ordinary or so we thought. Every day, when the group of docs, nurses, therapists visit each patient, they ask, “Anything new….any changes”……so, yesterday, we beat them to the punch. We took a couple of sheets of paper and listed all of Kevin’s complaints regarding his MS, under “Before Treatment”….then we took two more sheets of paper and titled it “After treatment”.
Then, we went through the list and marked the progress….I think that Kevin really surprised himself, too. To say, he has gained, is an understatement and we can’t wait to see the changes that may come over the next 3 months. When the docs came in, we showed them the list…..OHHH, AHHHHH….reading and translating …….pictures, pictures….more reading….more pics….congratulations, Kevin….you have done best of all patients here right now….All day long…..”May I read your list??! OHHH, AHHH…congratulations! You are doing wonderful……
Today, during physio, in walks the two founders of the program here….both are from the US…..they sat and talked with us for an hour about Kevin and his MS and treatment. They checked the list on the wall…apparently, it is now the new standard for every patient….they want everyone to list before and after….it’s a great idea….and a good way of measuring progress too.
Dr. Hakim came back in 3-4 more times during the day to chat and take pics…
Dr. HakimDr. Johnson and Dr. Hakim's son, who runs things over here, all came in to chat about things....
more cards later…..Kevin beating Clarence err…..maybe Clarence beating Kevin??
We had a party tonight…it is difficult for me to say goodbye to Ella and I took her for one last walk while her parents packed…..good bye, sweetie, I’ll really miss you alot. xoxoxo
December 10th, 2008
Monday, December 8th
Today was IV day. Kevin had regular physio run in the am and went for his treatment at 1:30…..they had a really hard time putting in the IV today….first time it bothered him. It was only in for about 15 minutes and it began to swell and turn red….his hand was turning kind of blue. Nancy, the head nurse, came in and immediately took out the IV and put it in the other hand…The doctor thinks he has phebitus…not exactly sure what that is but she wrote it down to show us as she couldn’t figure out how to say it. Lots of heat and wet compresses for the day and through the night. He said it hurt just for them to touch it. But, it was in until the last drop fell…….squeeze that bag…there must be another 100 bucks worth hiding in the corner!
I did a run to the RT Mart in the morning as Georgina and I are throwing a goodbye party for one another tomorrow night….. I’m on munchies…she’s on drinks and cake….
Andy, Georgina and Ella
I left with Jack at 3:30 to go pick up my order at the Silk Factory…..It takes so long to get through traffic here…also stopped by the Silk Market for a couple of thank you gifts for the nurses and off to Starbucks to do the hot chocolate run…..back through the traffic and home by 7:30…..four hours to do that…..drives me crazy….just a spoiled Islander, I know. Jack’s a good driver…only 3 near misses tonight
Many showed up at 7:30 for some laughs and meeting some new people in….Some are just starting to surface after being here for 3-4 days…jet lag aint’ pretty no matter which direction you travel.
Went to play with my girl for a while before bedtime…..:-)
Ella Bella!
December 10th, 2008
Yan, a buddy of mine from work, arrived in Hangzhou last Wednesday for a month long visit with her mom. She arrived, with her best friend, at the hospital around 9:30 am and off we went for some shopping, touring and dining like the locals! Kevin thought that it would be too much for him as we wouldn’t be back until after supper. So he stayed, ordered in his meals and visited and played crib with Clarence and Leslie. Cutie patootie Lucy, spent some time with him today too……so he wasn’t exactly sufferin’ if ya know what I mean…..I’ll have to get a better picture of her and put it in this post.
Us girls? Well, we went to a shopping mall, lunch…..Yan ordered and it was really good…..Tracy, shall I order for you….yes, please….but not too much (just in case I didn’t like it and I didn’t want to offend anyone). I was just starting to come down with Ella’s cold virus and I was pretty warm and not feeling the best….so I really wasn’t all that hungry. …..Yan, just do me a favour….nothing with the head still on it please….I’m not up to that today:…..Good choices, Yan….it was yummy. I wanted to pick up the bill but Yan wasn’t having any of that…You are guest in my country, I am the host….I pay……one question, Yan….does that mean from now on I have to pay for you when we are at work, cos, Canada is my country! No, Tracy….It is also my country too now…..well, that’s a relief! ha!
We went for a walk by West Lake
Yan and her best friend
…..tons of people….it’s Sunday after all…..went in to see the completed Christmas tree at the Hyatt,
toured the Leifang Pagoda….amazing!
Leifang Pagoda
……heard the monks singing across the road….Would you like to go visit the temple? Yes, please…..pretty cool spot…lots of monks wearing different coloured robes…
must be different learning levels….the Chinese girls weren’t sure. Funniest thing….a monk walking along speaking on his cell phone….told you! There isn’t anyone here without one!
Went to another restaurant and had another fabulous meal. Yan’s friend’s husband came along to say hello and pick up the bill….shi shi, sir!
Half hour later….back at the hospital…..cold day….I was waiting to get by the fire! Thanks Yan, I can’t express how much I enjoyed my outing with you guys. See you in Jan when you get back to work.
Another hot chocolate waiting by the fire! Oh, Louise……you have no idea how much I needed that! thanks! Spent time running around the halls with Ella and her mom…..Ella just started moving her walker on her own today and hasn’t stopped….she is actually running….Her mom was near in tears….freedom at last for both of them…..nice to see…she has made great strides since coming here this time. At one point, everyone from docs to patients, were in the hall to see her running around the halls…good times.
Ella and Georgina....she hates getting her pic taken!
December 10th, 2008
