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Happy New Year!
Yes, I know that I said I would write the weekend we arrived home but who knew Christmas was less than two weeks away!?
We lucked out at the airport and didn’t have to purchase any extra tickets however, be prepared for a couple of things when travelling through Chinese airports….there are no places to sit nor wheelchairs readily available upon entering the airports. I had a bit of a struggle to hang on to Kevin and steer all the luggage until I got to the check-in counter and ordered him up a chair with a side order of assisant! Straight sailin’ baby after that! We had a two hour delay as the weather in Beijing was not cooperating with the flight schedules. As there was no English being spoken that day, we were unable to find out more details and I am quite positive that they made an announcement for customers on our flight to come pick up a box lunch. We were sitting right in front of the counter where the assistant put us but they never came and gave us anything…..we were the only ones not eating but I peeked into the containers…..we were the lucky ones 
…..not really .
I was feeling really, really rotten and got worse with each passing hour. I looked at Kevin and said ” Gosh, I am really nervous that they won’t let me fly with this heavy cold”……dear husband, who I laboured over for the last month, quickly turned to me, ” Well, if they don’t, I’m not staying, you’re on your own!…I’ve put in my time here, and I’m going home tonight!” Hmm…I see…thanks dear….(REAL COMMENTS have been edited for family presentation )
Air Canada could not have treated us better on the long flight from Beijing to Toronto. Didn’t mind the flight at all. An overnight in TO and onto Charlottetown next day. Amazing group of friends and family met us there….it was very heart warming for us. Thanks guys. Home. Safe. Happy.
Is there really anything more to say
February 18th, 2009
Thursday, December 11th!
They are letting us out for good behavior….obviously mine, not his ….NO temp….free to go…Bags are ready in the hall, Johnny….grab an elevator….we’re checking out…..ok, first to the nurse’s station, where we were greeted by everyone from cleaners to doctors…wow….we are certainly leaving with mixed emotions….If Kevin continues to improve, I would love to bring him back for another round….time ….and $$ will tell. They are driving us to the airport and Johnny will come to the Air China check in counter with us…thank goodness. The last 4 people to check out of here all flew Air China and all had to buy new tickets when they got to the counter….not wanting to push my luck, I asked Luca to check with the airline to ensure we won’t have the same problem… Johnny called and apparently, all is well. He is coming with us anyways so whew…..
This morning was very difficult….saying goodbye is never easy but Kevin took it pretty hard. Some of the staff that aren’t working this morning, came to see us last night….poor Kevie……He came with hope of improving his quality of life and leaves with much more. I told the docs, ” next time, please give him baby BOY stem cells”….I think he got some female ones this time…..:-)…wah, wah, wah…..I would really like to leave this bloody cold here though….I’ll have to fake clean health so I can board the Air Canada flight! Don’t want to be left behind!
We leave at 9 for the airport….flight leaves at 10:50 from Hangzhou (pronounced hong joe) arriving in Beijing at 12:55. We have a 6 hour layover….unfortunately, not enough time to leave the airport and go see some of the city. The airport is humongous and takes 3 hours to go through security with the crowds so it looks like we’ll just have to suck it up for awhile……Our Air Canada flight leaves at 19:00 hours (7:00 PM)( that’s 7 oclock thursday morning PEI time) and flys direct to Toronto getting in at 5:00pm on the 11th….go figure…..we have to overnight and fly out at 10 the next day. We arrive (supposedly) Charlottetown at 12:55 Dec. 12th….home sweet home….food…ummmm….wonder what’s for supper???! See you soon…I’ll update sometime on the weekend…I have more posts and pictures but (I believe I am the first??!) I have used up all the space they allow for a blog….I have requested more….just a hair please, Alf….thanks for following our journey, but it is just the beginning of wonderful things ahead….and thanks for the support in many, many ways…we were able to do this because of you….say a little prayer for a safe flight….:-)…..See you back in Canada…..chow….mein
December 11th, 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
Saturday, December 6th ( I had to change the pics to thumbnails as I was running out of my allotted space. Double click on it to enlarge!)
Today was a regular day for Kevin with a complete round of physio. He is still complaining about his right arm being tender after the IV last week. It was in for 3 days and then it was red and sore so they took it out. Andy decided to wait until 2 o’clock to do accupuncture so Clarence, Louise and I thought it was high time Kevin went to the RT Mart for groceries…..Thanks Clarence, don’t mind at all that you push him….We whizzed out of the parking lot into the traffic lane….One old guy and another lady were so busy looking at the foreigners that they banged into one another and the old guy went flying ….everyone rushed to help them….us? We ran in the other direction….no sense causing more accidents.
Clarence and Kevin in front of the RT MART
Up the escalator ( a chore in itself)….
wheeeee! Brakes on please!
you have to go to the third floor in order to take another escalator to the 2nd floor, where the groceries are…..Welcome to SeaWorld China, dear! On your left is the hanging poultry
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and on your right, the aquariums complete with many kinds of sea creatures….
the look on his face was priceless! Two hours later,we arrived back “home”…..”never again….jumpins, the people, the crowds”….it’s ok, dear….but we felt you just had to experience it.
After another short nap, we hopped in with a driver and drove off to the New Century Hotel for supper.
Kevin and Leslie
another shot of the stem cell patients!
It was really good and we were home by 8:00. There were a couple of different brides there ……all of the female attendants wore white as did the bride but they were shorter.
Pretty cute….lots of Christmas decorations everywhere! ….and it was nice to see all of the Merry Christmas signs….not Season’s greetings’ . They aren’t scared to say it….they enjoy experiencing other’s holidays with open arms…..it’s not their country that is saying no Merry Christmas….and it ain’t me either….Merry Christmas!
December 9th, 2008
Friday, December 5
Up early as usual and ready for Linda to show up with her electric wave machine….it’s like hooking up Frankinstein….she wires Kevin up and she’s bent over him with her little white labcoat and her mask, ” Can you take more, Kevin”…..yeah, Linda…..crank ‘er up to full voltage! Give ‘er everything she’s got!…..no, Tracy, I ask Kevin question…..oh….fine, then…..I’ll stay out of this and go handwash some things including his dishes. Man, if he thinks Linda’s shock is bad, wait ’til he gets home! He’s in for a bigger shock…no, dear, get my breakfast for a change! These nurses have spoiled him beyond belief…. I go to the supermarket and when I return back..”Tracy, Kevin is tired,……Tracy…..Kevin is hungry…..Tracy…Kevin is bored……I am weighing each of the single nurses….smallest one is getting packed…..:-)
They put in his IV at 10:00 and gave him his valium at 10:15….10:20, off to the stem cell transplantation room……stop! Blood pressure….green light, door opens…in he goes…..he’ll be baked and out in a half hour….. He scared me a little this time. Every other time, he was still talking to me as he slid into the room however this time, he was out of it. I kept shaking him and trying to get him to respond but nothing….The head nurse, Nancy, leaned over and shook him a little by the chin and he opened his mouth a bit…”he is good…no problem…no worry”……Ok, then….
When he came out, he was slurring his words big time…too funny…” did—n’t fe–el any—thing. “ Great…go to sleep….maybe I can get some blogging done….he did sleep for a couple of hours but I have to stay close as he can’t get up to the bathroom and with 1000 ml of saline going in…..it doesn’t take him long to want to go! He’s flat for 6 hours so meals are ordered with this in mind. We watched a movie or at least I did. Clarence, Louise and Leslie went out touring for the afternoon and brought us back hot chocolate from Starbucks!! He still wasn’t allowed up so they tried to make him feel better…
Kevin and Louise....I can't leave him along for a minute!
They were absolutely frozen so we turned up the heater and wrapped Leslie up and drank our yummy drinks…later, another movie and sleep.
Kevin and Leslie....cute, huh!
nice, Les
December 9th, 2008
Thursday, Dec. 4
We were up and showered early today as our American friends were leaving on a jet plane. Kevin was so weak earlier today…”I can’t go to see them….give them my best:”….as they say around here, “no problem”…I scooted off to their room around 8 to return the pc and see if I could help…..10 minutes later, Clarence and family arrived too. It wasn’t 5 minutes later that I heard Kevin….”I just had to come no matter if I had to crawl here”…He had walked to the nurse’s station and picked up a ride from there. They have a couple of wheelchairs for patients to take out on excursions. Along came Robyn and Bobby and we all headed to the nurse’s station for pics……all of the staff on duty came too….lots of pics and lots of tears….not me, but biga baby….shhh, don’t tell him I told you that…..” these stem cells are making me too sensitive”…yeah, yeah….what;s a few tears between friends…right, Coloris?? Off they went, the 4 of them, Rebecca, Jack, Luca and 12 bags of luggage….betcha it was a quick elevator ride to the bottom! Sad though…Rick and Susie live a couple of hours away from Myrtle Beach but have a family condo there….They have mentioned on several occasions about us coming to visit….they mentioned sept or oct being a great time….they had me at “beach and shopping”….they had Kevin at “local car show” and “access to alot of Nascar drivers”…..nice…..See you in September…..ya gotta sing that part, people!
He slept for a while after lunch and I did laundry….she was late today but it wasn’t like I wasn’t going to be home……I cut off all the laundry tags and put everything away. To keep things quiet so he could sleep, I went to write the blog but found my favorite child here, Ella, in physio in the computer room. She wasn’t wanting any part of it today. She has had a really rough go of it this time and has picked up a cold virus and has been miserable with it. She has had a fever for the last couple of days and is on the same schedule as Kevin for stem cell treatments. Unfortunately, the doctor came in to let them know that her treatment is cancelled for tomorrow. She is still running a temp and they have run tests. A Ped doc is coming to see her and they have put her back on an IV. She has been running at both ends, poor little thing. Rough nights on Mom and Dad. She can’t have a treatment if her fever is up as it kills the stem cells. They have given them the option of having one treatment fee returned or extending her stay in order to complete her last 2 stem cell treatments. Tough decision….anyways, while in physio, I started playing peek-a-boo with her….I got her attention for the next half hour and took her mind off of what Kerri was doing with her legs…later I went to her room and played with her again so mom could at least have a shower and get lunch ready….late but better than never. She’s such a cute kid. We watched her another afternoon and Kevin started stretching out both of his arms to her. We made it a game and she was giggling pretty good…in the end, she would stretch out both of hers and wait for Kevin to do the same and tap her fists with his…..please understand that this child has cerebal palsy and seldom if ever moved her left arm….huge for her. Now, as soon as she sees Kevin, both hands come up….it’s their own secret handshake! She won’t do it for anyone else……
when I returned to the room, Mr Jones had slipped out to Clarence’s room and apparently skunked him at crib…..go, Kevie……We slipped back “home” for supper….ordered out tonight..let Kevin choose supper…he felt like chinese. After supper, he went to lay down and I went to see if there was a computer avaiable….today is my lucky day…hahaha…..free one! Wrote a blog update but still no pictures. Louise came in and we chatted for a while. I better go check out the big guy….he’s not there?? Gone to Clarence’s again….I’m starting to think my welcome mat is wearing thin and he’s missing the guys at home. At 8:30, Helen came and chased us back to our room….tomorrow is stem cell day….last lumbar puncture…..early night for Kevin…..ok, Helen…we’re going….when was the last time you were chewed out for not being to bed on time!??
Casey is on the 1:00 am to 8:00 am shift so she’s in the oncall room until then….she came in for a little visit first….run Casey! I hear Helen coming back…..:->
December 5th, 2008
Wednesday, Dec 3
Another cool but beautiful day in Xioshen (pronounced showsen….the xio makes the s sound and the sen makes the shhh sound….go figure)
Kevin did another round of exhaustive physio today. One part , he lays down and Andy puts a 5 lb weight on his weak leg and he has to lift it slowly up as high as Andy’s hand and back down. He can do it the first 10 times but then gets weaker….Andy, puts his hand back down by his side: “5 mo” ….I’m trying Andy….Did you put your hand higher?? I can’t get it at all…”you keep try, Kevin”….jeez, Andy….Tracy, did he put his hand higher?? No, dear….I swear his hand is not higher…….Andy never did tell him the difference…joker.
Then came accupuncture….man, did it hurt today….it near lifted him right off the bed….I felt it too….now, I know what you are thinking….you’re right, I didn’t feel one needle but have you ever held the hand of a grown man getting accupuncture….vise grip…..turns out if he is going to be in pain…so am I! Too bad we’re finished having kids….I could have taken out a lot of miles with that one….:-)
Went with Rick to the RT Mart to pick up a couple of things. He also wanted to pick up a fruit basket and flowers for the staff. Looks like KFC for supper tonight but we picked this up ourselves as it is always cold by the time the delivery service makes it to the door. Rick and Susie, Robyn and Bobby are leaving in the morning for home. Just leaves Clarence, Louise, Leslie, Kevin and I…..the last mohicans……the rowdy gang. All of the new people in have young children and we rarely see them. We truly were blessed to come when we did. It gets pretty quiet around Christmas and Chinese New Years (Jan 26)….less people here. I went to see if there was anything I could do for either of them….they were so busy weighing and packing, throwing stuff into different bags….fun to watch! They arrived at our door with 7 bags of groceries and supplies….like Christmas…Look Kevin! Baked beans….Wahoo! You have to be here a month to really appreciate receiving a can of beans…what can I say……we split everything with two of the other rooms and put alot of stuff on the community shelf too……fill yer boots, people.
Around 7, the gang went into the Recreation Room and had munchies and cake, took pics and had a lot of laughs….We have all vowed to have a reunion next year. 9:00 saw us in our room. Rick had a Magic Jack, which is a little device you plug into your computer’s USB slot and then plug your phone into it….make all the long distance calls you want…NO charge…nice….he told us to take his laptop to our room and call away. He would get it in the morning. We tried to call everyone we could, who was home.…that was such a treat. We went to bed around 1:30 am …..shhhhh!
December 5th, 2008
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