Day 5
October 20th, 2008
Well PT and Electro therapy were easy, as was acupuncture. I’ve been doing all 3 for a year and a half, I guess practice does make perfect. Martin, who runs PT and acupuncture, is excellent.
And then, there was the first stem cell treatment. Kind of anti-climactic, being just an IV, but I do feel better. The hardest part was the little girl who reminds me of one of my own daughters, who screamed the entire time. It breaks your heart to see all these poor kids. My friend Jim, who is on the same track, and I felt so helpless. You wish you could do something, anything. And yet, a few hours later, she was happy as a clam, and her Mom noticed a definite improvement.
For some reason, my computer refuses to recognize its own DVD player. Probably the jostling it got on the plane. I was supposed to take it for repair today. but by the time we were ready, I would’ve had to leave it overnight. Not!
On the food front, I got pizza again tonight for dinner. It had corn on it.
I’m looking forward to my first spinal infusion Friday, spring training is over, bring on the regular season.
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9 Comments Add your own
1. melissa tantillo | October 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Hey Mike~ Isn’t it amazing how quickly kids rebound? I’m sorry that you have to be witness to it, but just remember and be confident that this whole thing that you are all going through is going to make you all BETTER.
Just got off the phone w/you, you look so good! Bad Chinese food must agree with you. I read someone else’s comments about checking out the Chinese bakeries, you definitely have to do it!! I totally craved baked goods when i was away! Plus, i’ve never had a Chinese ‘baked good’, you have to tell us all what they’re like!!
Still looking into fed-exing you some castles….
So much love and good thoughts~
your sister
2. Jeff Crowe | October 20th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
If you order pizza from LA Pizza, it is plain…no corn or other weird stuff. Learned that one the hard way, too.
You are correct, Martin IS terrific. I didn’t have him for PT (I had Andy) but he did my acupuncture…he definitely knows what he’s doing.
Let me warn you, the spinal is kinda anti-climactic as well…a little pressure, but no pain, if you get the nice injection of Valium in the IV BEFORE the infusion. The only thing I can tell you is make SURE you use the restroom immediately before the spinal. They pump you so full of fluids and you can’t move for 6 hours, so you can’t imagine how full your bladder gets…
Remember, drink lots of water to keep those veins nice and large for the nurses. Inserting IV’s is definitely NOT their forte.
Talk to you soon!!!
Jeff
3. Mom | October 20th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Just read the comment from Jeff. Good to know about the new pizza place. Also good to know about spinal. I had forgotten about going to the john before the spinal. Absolute must. Just spoke with Grace Chamberlain, my Armenian friend through Terri. “I hate to bother you, but I so wanted to hear how Michael is doing.” I saw her on Saturday on Terri’s birthday, but of course didn’t have as much info as I do now. I filled her in, and she is very computer savvy so I thought I would send her your blog site if it is O.K. with you. We can talk more about this later. Love you, Keep up doing what ever it is you are doing that is making me feel so good when I speak with you. Selfish enough? Love, love and more love. Mom
4. sylvia | October 21st, 2008 at 2:54 am
I sent your blog site to the Sponge Bob Square Pants national fan club. They said they miss you!
The only time I ever had a spinal was when I had knee replacement, and I got a urinary cath too…ha ha (trying to simulate voice from Simpsons)
Hmm….all this anti-climactic(no pain) stuff…you better hope the nurses don’t read this. They will give you something to “climactic” about!
xoxo nurse rachet
5. Anahid | October 21st, 2008 at 3:56 am
Hiya cuzin! Can I help? (Making grunting noises at the top of the stairs)
Probably not — outside of saying I’m thinking of you and wishing you the best. I’ve caught up on your posts, everyone’s comments plus checking out the sites of other ataxia bloggers at the hospital. The results are really encouraging. Wish we could all take turns popping in and sitting with you in shifts – changing cool washcloths (it would appear there’s LOTS of cold water available), handing you corn pizza — You’d have family and friends lined up and down streets.
A few sentences to transport you out of China and into the Berkshires — raked leaves last night, pushing the air out of the bags, tying them up and stacking them in a line. Decorated the house with Halloween pumpkins the kids have drawn over the years – hanging a paper bat over the kitchen table. Picked apples Sunday plus a basket of raspberries. Kate wants to be a fairy princess for Halloween but Spencer won’t tell us yet what he’ll be – “it’s a secret”. There’s a Halloween parade in town this Friday – each elementary school has a float – we meet friends for pizza before it starts — easy fun. There’s a wonderful orchard in town that has spice apple doughnuts that they only give out warm — plus hot cider.
I’ll check in again soon. Much love to you, Mike. You are in my thoughts. Courage. It would seem you’re exactly where you need to be.
xxoxoxoxo
Anahid
6. Rob | October 21st, 2008 at 4:21 am
Go Mike, Go!
Pizza with corn sounds interesting-I guess there’s far worse toppings one could encounter(haha)…If we’re going with the sports analogies, I anticipate an 80-yard pass on the first possession caught in the end zone with the extra point kicked for Mike 7, ataxia 0!!! Hopefully you’ll get your DVD player sorted out. I’m thinking about you, cuz!
Love,
Rob
7. Sue Carlini | October 21st, 2008 at 7:39 am
HI, Mike,
Just received the link to your blog from Sylvia. Sounds like things are going in a positive direction for you. Just want you to know that you are in our daily thoughts and prayers. Keep up the good work! Pizza with corn?…YUM!
Take care!
With much love,
Sue (Ezikian) Carlini
8. Aunt Sandy | October 21st, 2008 at 7:40 am
Hey Mike, regards from all here – I spoke with Clem & MIchelle (my niece & nephew) and both always ask for you – you’ll probably get a note on your blog from them, as well as Julie – I saw Stevie today, made a run to PC’s and he too sends well wishes as we all do. I spent a bit of time with Geof (your bro) getting his video cam to work, we were losing the audio when his video was on but that’s worked out now. I had him call logitec and he got someone who knew what he was talking about – apparently when you set up the mike it needs to be set to something other than the default – I guess with learning this stuff I’ll have to break down and get a video cam when I get home. Will talk to you later (If I can figure out day & night between here and there)……love ya, Aunt Sandy
What’s for breakfast more dumplings?????
9. Susan | October 21st, 2008 at 8:08 am
Mike,
Your blog is SO entertaining!!! That is because it is so real..I am in Hangzhou with my son who has his temp read 4-6 x/day depending on what treatment he is having done. Here we have Papa John’s (that deliver to the room) and Pizza Hut (that the hsp will go out & get for us). If you get bored, give us a call on Skype since we are on the same timezone..I am coosa11. The only problem might be that the PC in one room far away from our room. Other people that are on the PC have come and gotten me when I have had a call though. When do you go back to the states?
Susan
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