Jim’s MSA Blog

Jim’s “Final Spinal”

August 9th, 2007

Today is Wednesday, August the 8th, and it’s Jim’s fourth and “final spinal” stem cell transfer. It’s also the first day of Fall here in Hangzhou, and as if on cue the sky has cleared to a beautiful blue with puffy white clouds. It’s the first non-grey, not hazy, clear day since our arrival.

Jim has been a bit weak and tired again today. James returned him to our room early from physical therapy, telling me that he was too dizzy to continue. We cancelled the electro wave therapy and Jim has been napping…waiting for his 2:30 appointment with Dr. Mike. At 2:00 the nurses came in to prep Jim and get his IV going. He was feeling pretty relaxed as they wheeled him away.

We have a floor to ceiling, large picture window in our room that looks out over the city. On a clear day like today I can see out to the horizon, and it’s all buildings. Some are businesses, skyscrapers and industrial buildings, but by far the majority are apartment buildings…large complexes and older, smaller buildings in their shadows as far as the eye can see. Very few people in China live in single family homes.

One doesn’t often see grassy lawns, at least not in this part of Hangzhou. There are occassional lovely plantings of lantana, ice-plant, and perfectly manicured bushes, and just like in Sonoma, the crepe myrtle trees are blooming. But any available vacant lot or plot of land has been cultivated into productive vegetable gardens. And to me these are more beautiful than lawns.

On very hot evenings some people drag cots up to the roof tops of their buildings and sleep outside. It’s such a beautiful evening tonight that people are bringing chairs outside on the sidewalks and terraces, and gathering to talk. The rickshaw drivers are sitting on the sidewalk in a small circle playing cards for money. The break in the heat seems to have energized everyone!

I spaced out today and got off on the 19th floor instead of the 20th. It turns out to be the maternity ward. A very proud grandma and grandpa were with walking with their brand new little grandbaby. They were so in awe and so joyful that they had to come over and show me. There is nothing more beautiful than a newborn, so tiny and perfect and fresh from god (whoever she is)!

So I’m standing up here in the window on the 20th floor sending out a quiet prayer of gratitude to all the Chinese mothers and babies who have donated the umbilical cords for these stem cell treatments. Xie xie.

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