Archive for May, 2007
Just wanted to let everyone know I made it home safe and sound. I was greeted at the airport by friends and family and a big block of Cracker Barrel old cheese. God its good to be home.
What an experience……I want to thank everyone who shared this adventure with me. From the nurses and doctors, the Beike staff, new friends from around the world, and friends and family at home, without which I would not have had the strength to see it through. It has been an honor to know each and everyone of you, may your life be blessed with health and happiness.
With Much Love,
Leslie
May 22nd, 2007
Well folks it seems there is a new player in our game……old guy with arm in sling. He came out of nowhere and both me and chubby chinese lady lost yesterday. Tomorrow is another day however but I’m up against some tough competitors.
On Sunday a group of us went on a shopping expedition to the Luo Hu shopping center, where we were dropped off underground and were completely clueless as to which direction to go. Some strange dude happened by and started wheeling me away (Mom had a mild stroke and then understood he meant no harm) I managed to speak a little chinese and tell this man that we wanted to go to the 5th floor, where we were supposed to meet the rest of our group, he assumed I could speak fluent mandarin and proceeded to speak rapidly to which I just nodded and smiled. Strange man where ever you are xie xie. Shopping was a blur of missy missy you want purse, you want watch, DVD, missy missy. All I can say is that my mom is the best negotiator ever and she ticked off a mass of chinese people and got me some great deals. While shopping I had to go to the bathroom and I don’t think I need to explain how unaccessable the bathroom was so I decided when in Rome…… and cathed in the corner. Let me tell you some people had great stories for the dinner table that night. Dad you would have loved the shopping experience, especially the golf store, sorry you missed it.
My 5th stem cell treatment brought another mild stroke for my mom because I was in the room for longer than expected. Not to worry, there were some slight problems with finding a good place to inject the cells and of course finding a vein for the nerve growth factor. The next day I had only a small headache but I ended up with a bruise on my lower back at the injection sight. I received a painkiller, which helped but I’m told the pain will last a few days. My final treatment is on Friday and is an IV treatment, then home sweet home on Sunday.
May 17th, 2007
Many of you may not know this but for the last 4 weeks I have been having an ongoing battle with a chubby chinese lady (I say chubby cause most people over here are the size of one of my legs). The battlefield is in the physio room, more specifically the standing table in the physio room. Apparently we are both booked to stand at the same time, its pretty much become a race to see who gets there first. Sometimes I win, sometimes she wins and as the days pass we have been getting to physio progressively earlier and earlier and earlier. Its been a mutual game between the two of us and as far as I can tell its been as humerous for her as it has been for me. This past week I’ve been rather pokey so the standings are as follows: Chubby chinese lady – 5, Leslie – 1. Game on….
I had my 4th stem cell treatment on Wednesday, this one was a spinal. I was the first to go in and so I had a lovely window view. When he put the needle in, yes I felt it, my right leg freaked out. Other than that it went very well, but no smack on the butt, I gotta be honest….I was disapointed. Even the tiny nurses who put me on my back counted to three and ta da, no problem. I said ‘nice work ladies’ and they clapped and giggled. On the way out I caught a glimpse of the needle they use and quickly shut my eyes. Big….enough said. 6 hour on my back, same old boring, next time I’m opting for the sleepy meds first. Had a headache the next day so I took it easy and even the next day, still had a small headache. Today all good and no more headache. Only 2 more treatments to go, one spinal and one IV. And only 7 days left, wow time flew by. I miss home so much but at the same time it will be hard to leave all these wonderful people behind.
P.S. Julie G. my mom says she thinks of you every morning:)
May 12th, 2007
Yesterday was supposed to be stem cell day but there were some complications at the lab, and so the treatments were postponed until today. Better safe than sorry especially with foriegn stuff being put in my body……I have no problem waiting an extra day. So in a few hours I’ll have my fourth treatment.
In the meantime, my dad has made it safe and sound back home with all our purchased goods, which means we have more room to go shopping. He has made quite an impact here and is missed by all. Everyone says to say hello. Ken has now joined our ranks as he arrived the night before last and is busy meeting the crew here on the 14th floor.
I also stared occupational therapy yesterday and I had 2 people on either side of me working the knots out of my hands, arms and shoulders. It felt great, a big thank you to Terry for suggesting I get it……you were right.
Anyway I’ll try to write more often and I’ll let you know how my injection goes.
May 9th, 2007
Yup you betcha……I got some CHEESE. Well actually some friends that are here went to a restaurant and brought back this spicey tex mex bread thingy with mushrooms, bacon, and oh yes covered in melted cheesy goodness. It was fantastic……JC your my favorite person for a whole week, thank you so much, it made my day:)
P.S. Ad I hope your finger falls off……at the very least gangrene. And to the other cheese teasers, may you be bunged up forever:)
No new changes for me but I thought I share someone elses good news. Theres a little boy here from Italy who is autistic, between 6 and 8 years old, he has never spoken a word in his whole life…….until now. His first word ever was ‘DADDY’. Something so little but so profound, just amazing.
missing all of you
May 5th, 2007
Well I think I’ve done it, I think I’ve cracked the driving code. As far as I can tell the rules go something like this:
2 short horn blasts means I’m coming up fast on your left, if its followed by another short blast it means ‘hey didn’t you hear me, I said up coming up fast’. 1 short blast means I’m coming up on your right, although it also means I’m going to cut you off. 1 long hardblast means your about to hit me to another vehicle or to warn pedestrians that they are about to be run over. Signal lights are a personal preferance and are used accordingly. Local taxi’s play a game called beat the bus. The object of this game is when in the far left lane, next to the guard rail, and a bus is coming into that lane you must of course speed up and make it past the bus before it hits you or you hit the rail. Or maybe I’m just full of nonesense and they just like the sound of the horns.
We went to a Japanese restaurant last night and it was fantastic. There was about 12 of us, 5 in wheelchairs. Everyone was staring at us, they had never seen anything like it. Some stranger was taking pictures of us, it was most amusing. In the restaurant we all sat around a grill and watched the chef prepare and serve our food. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, cheese was the only thing missing:) Ken were going again when you get here.
We attempted to go shopping today in another district and booked the Beike van instead of a taxi. He was an excellent driver and the ride over was quite pleasent. I may not have mentioned it but it is a holiday here. The roads were absolutly packed near the shopping center, we couldn’t get anywhere near it and so we decided to head back to the hospital. Round trip it took us around 2 hours but we got to see some of the city, its absolutly huge and crazy beautiful.
Hope all is well with you
May 2nd, 2007
Well if anyone out there wants to take their own life China is the place to go, all you have to do is cross the street. Even though the little walk sign is lit up its more of a guidline than an actual rule. Its kinda like playing frogger (I just dated myself) buses, cars, motorcycles etc. still turn corners without a look or a thought. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way. I think dodging traffic is learned at a very young age as it doesn’t seem to bother anyone else. I myself have not attemped to cross the major streets just some minor ones. I think I’ll stick to right hand turns. Driving is another “fun” experience. 3 lanes during rush hour quickly turns to 6 lanes. The white lines on the roads are clearly for decoration as most cars drive in the middle of them until they see what direction best suits their needs. I don’t get it, there must be some sort of secret driving code. A few of us went to a restaurant/shopping district called SeaWorld, which takes about 20 minutes. We booked a cab and wow. I didn’t count on the way over but on the way back it went something like this: We almost took out 2 pedestrians, 3 bicycles…one bike had 3 people on it, a dozen or so smaller taxi cabs, and just as many or more buses almost sideswiped us, the grand finale was a U turn across 3 lanes of traffic into the hospital drop off zone. Were going again tonight….wish me luck.
My doctor paid me a vist yesterday morning to take a peek at my MRI’s I had brought with me, he decided I should have another and so he said he would arrange it for me and left. 10-15 minutes later one of the translaters, Ping Ping, came and said ‘ok lets go for MRI’ I would have waited at least 6 months in Canada. They took me in right away, no wait even in the radiology department….amazing, so this is what efficiency runs like. However in the MRI tube thingy was the foulest smell, a cross between bad BO and dirty feet. But done and back in my room in approx 40 minutes…..impressive.
Well on a more somber note I had my 2nd spinal stem cell injection yesterday and again was rolled in a ball and when it was over got another smack on the butt and the nurse said ‘ok all done’ then patted my leg and said ‘you straiten’…..I replied ‘kinda part of why I’m here lady’ she understood and because I not allowed to move myself she preceeded to try and position me flat on my back. Well you would have thought I was a 10 ton beached whale with all the grunts and groans coming out of her…..all I could do was shake with laughter, it was hilarious. And today only a small headache, as long as I don’t move my head to quickly its fine. much better than last time.
Miss you all very much
May 1st, 2007
