Shelagh’s ALS Blog

Home!!!

November 16th, 2007

      11/11/07  Well we’re home again.  What a great feeling and what a great welcome.  Thanks heaps to Carolyn and David, Connor and Isabelle and (surprise!) Richard and Mum for providing the welcoming committee and to Mike and Pam & Emma for providing the ‘welcome home’ reception with all the goodies.  Actually much better than airline food!!  I have noticed some small improvements in my condition since the stem cells and we just hope they hold up for the next six months or so.  The doctors have told us that it takes 3-6 months for the cells to reach their potential, so we live in hope. We have to let everyone know how fantastic it has been to receive all your emails, blog responses and txt messages. They were all real life-savers.  It was quite an isolating experience and your messages from all over the world helped enormously to keep our spirits up. Will update this blog on a monthly basis so everyone can know how the progress maintains.   Our love to each and every one of you. Carer 7                        16.11.07 Well it has taken a long time to get down and write an update to you all, mainly due to a great deal of meeting up with family and friends and settling back into routine. In addition this last week has been a busy time seeing various specialists for reports and updates on Shelagh’s condition after her treatment.  We can report good news on the following: we saw her physio last Monday and with the tests for balance, walking and arm strength, Shelagh is in better condition than when last examined on the 27^th Aug., thanks due we think to Willy, her physio in Shenyang.  (Good news).   On Tues. we saw her swallowing examiner and found that an improvement is evident, is chewing better with bigger amounts of food and more able to cope.  (More good news).  Same day we saw her dietitian and could report her ability to consume high protein and high energy foods are maintained.  (Even more good news). Albeit her continued weight loss is of some concern.  We attribute that loss either to low nutrition foods in China or my cooking or both!   Shelagh has to lose no more and if possible increase over the next three months.  We saw the neurologist on Wed. and his comment was that Shelagh was looking healthy!!, and when tested for reflexes was in as good if not better condition.  He is also concerned with her weight loss, but found her in better shape than when last examined.  The speech has not dramatically improved, I find it about the same, although some here say they can hear an improvement. So, all in all, it appears that the trip was worthwhile and if things continue to improve and/or maintain it would be in our best interests to start planning for another trip in about 6 months. I’ll close now with a repeat of my thanks to all those who have worked hard over the last month or so to make us better.

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