Day 17 11/1/08
November 2nd, 2008
Very strange day. At physical therapy, I’m doing bridges with Jason sitting on me, when he rolls off and wants to arm wrestle me, two hands to one. Like I said, he only weighs one-fifty, so it wasn’t hard. Later at acupuncture, he has Frank, another therapist, ready to go at it.
I’m starting to feel like I’m back in college, only then, I won drinking money doing it. Oh well, at least the kids were amused.
I pushed myself in that therapy session about as hard as I can. Rising from a sitting position holding a rod with 20 pounds on it, with my feet together (not as easy as it sounds). Holding a squat with that 20 pounds for almost a minute. Of course, remembering that I used to squat 30 times that kind of puts it in perspective. I know I shouldn’t compare what I could do with what I can do, but sometimes it isn’t easy. I used to walk 4-5 miles a day in the course of my work. Fast. That used to be my way of relaxing, of thinking things through. Now, the idea of walking across a mall is daunting. I miss that. But this way lies madness. What I can do is take care of my kids, hopefully earn a living, and enjoy life.
Anyway, back to therapy. The harder I push in there, the more bang for my buck I’ll get from those stem cells. So I push. When I think of some of those other programs I could have gone to, with no therapy, five days and your done, and only as far away as Mexico, well, I’m glad I’m doing it this way. I’m just worried that I’m not getting enough spinals; the doctors say it’s enough, but cells introduced into the body through IV don’t pass the blood-brain barrier, and my problem is in the cerebellum, in the brain. I think I’m going to request two more spinals instead of one, even though one was a real pain in the…back.
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized
4 Comments Add your own
1. melissa tantillo | November 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 am
Good Afternoon~
Too surreal that as my family goes to baseball practice and generally gets on w/the day, you are a million miles away sleeping through the night. So unnatural!
It has to be said, you have such an amazing support system behind you. One of my favorite things to do each day is read your blog and then read everyone’s comments. All over the country (Maybe the world) people are connected because of you. How’s that for cool? I never knew you were such a great guy as to have such great friends!!! (joking, but wow!). It’s a rare opportunity to get to find out what you really mean to people w/out having to lay in a casket listening to people talk about how great you ‘were’. A little morose for this Saturday afternoon, but I think you get my drift!
This is the first nice Saturday in a very long time. No rain, no windstorms, no freezing weather. Totally loving it! We have the very rare opportunity to go out to dinner tonight and have opted out of having sushi. We are saving that one for celebrating (with you and Susan) when you get back! Strange that you will be leaving Asia to come to North America to have good sushi, no?
So, did my stem cells cheer do any good? I’m sure that I could come up w/ a better one…
Love and FIERCELY good energy~ Melissa
2. Richard Callian | November 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 am
Michael,
Your blog is absolutely fascinating. Really. And not for the obvious reasons, such as insight into the culture, the optimism that the therapy is giving, your sense of humor, etc.
What makes it fascinating is how the whole process is becoming as much an exercise in philosophy as in physical health. The other thing that is probably getting overlooked by the rest of us here is the linguistic bridge. I know you have an interpreter, but surely Wendy isn’t with you every moment. You have a little adventure almost every day. (1) That takes courage even when you’re healthy (foreign language, foreign land where the concept of human rights is really a concept of human rites) and (2) I suspect that English is not really spoken well by almost anyone and that you’re understating the language barrier that exists when Wendy isn’t around.
I guess you’re probably learning a lot about yourself…?
[ ]
3. Aunt Sandy | November 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
I think writing a book is in your future – thanx for keeping us current with all your comings and goings – this sure beats the days of limited contact especially when a loved one is many, many, many miles away. I’m hitting the road early Sunday (don’t forget fall back, daylight savings time – do they change the clock there?) & not sure if I’ll get home Monday late of sometime Tuesday – but will try to hook up my cam and you will be my first jingle (or maybe second)……..sending good vibes your way for “painless” day on Monday – OOO XXXX’s, Aunt Sandy
4. Steven Ezikian | November 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Michael,
I was just getting caught up on your blog. I have been fascinated by your experience. I think there might be a book deal coming out of this, Maybe two. If it were not for the reason you are there, it would be a fantastic vacation. Good food, good friends daily spa treatments…… Joking aside, you are a talented writer. Your daily snipits give me an opportunity to turn of the rotten news and think about more important things. The Michigan contingent of the family are pulling and praying for you.
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed