Hello!
So alot of people have been wondering about my progress.Well, I am home from China almost 10 months and I am still getting small little improvements. It is very hard to explain this as it is so tiny! My eye tests show more of an improvement since last Mays result which is fantastic! I cant descibe how much stem cells have changed my life in the past 18 months. I am starting college next week, I am reading font size 12 on pages, I am watching the tv from 5ft away,it has been a huge transition. Not only for me but my family! In the past 2 months alone my eyesight has improved to the point where I can read an extra 2 letters on the eye chart. I really hope this continues to get better.It is so hard to believe 2 yrs ago I started my journey…time flies when your having fun!!!
September 2nd, 2011
Hello!
Well, it has been 7 months since my 2nd trip to China. I am doing really well. I have noticed lots of different things lately, very small but huge to me!
Cobwebs, yes I noticed nasty little cobwebs in the house. So unfortunatley for me, I had to clean 
But it wa great seeing them.
I always had to find the squirty part of the perfume bottle before I sprayed, now I CAN SEE IT!!!
We went out for a meal the other day to a retaurant we went to last year, before the trip and Matthew had to read it for me……I READ IT MYSELF THIS TIME!!!!
I am going for eye tests in August so I am hoping for good news to confirm all these little wonders! I will keep ye posted
xxx
July 12th, 2011
Hello!
Well, its hard to believe it nearly April already and I am home over 3 months now. I’m doing great. In the last month, I have noticed quite a few small improvements. I was beginning to get a little bit worried but I think it has to do with the fact that last time my omprovements were HUGE!
I voted in the national election this year, first year ever….I could read it!
I saw the swimmers points in the lake, which i go to every week. Matthew told me they were always there so this was really cool!
In China, I brought a book with me, and we measured what i could read then with it. I found the book the other day and much to my suprise i could read further.
I have been reading little paragraphs with no help, normal size test. Little bigger then newspaper print. I find my eyes get sore after a couple of lines and then they get blurry and I have to take a break! I never thought I would be able to read again and I am getting there now. I am doing alot of visual exercise so hopefully this might help it along as well. I am still getting head massages and I am on all the supplements! I will do anything to keep what sight I have gotten back!!!!
I am going back to college in Sept, a big decision!! I have become so much more confident in myself and I feel I am ready to move on. Its been 7 years since I got ONA, and its time!
I have tests next week with the doc here in Galway so I will keep ye posted if there is any other news.
Best wishes
Valerie
March 31st, 2011
Wow, I can’t believe this year is nearly over!! It’s crazy how quick and how slow it has gone!! To think this time last year, we were getting ready to start our first trip to china. Well, this year has been a BIG year for me. Not only was I told things in 2004, that my eyesight would never improve, but 2010 brought back some vision to me. I did work hard, I believed and I never gave up.My journey to China began in April 2004 and it is isn’t over yet.
Since we came home, I haven’t noticed much improvement but I am noticing slight improvement in the eye chart. As for me, I am finding myself sleeping ALOT since I came home, think I might need to slow down a bit!!
As matthew put it so well last night, my stem cells are tarring the road so the road needs to be closed for a while to let it work, so hopefully 2011 will open the road again!!
Anyway, let 2011 bring happiness, improvement, courage and health to everyone who needs a bit of Irish luck!!
Goodbye 2010, hello and welcome 2011
Slainte!!!
December 31st, 2010
Hi there,
Well, at this stage I am home and china round 2 is over!! My last stem cell was switched from a spinal to an IV because Dr Ying thought it was best for me. Everything went fine and on Saturday I went to the eye hospital and thankfully it has shown good improvement!! All the test have and thats a start!! The doctor there was very impressed and said hopefully some day I may be able to drive if it continues like before and I work hard at it
We went home and it was a great trip again and it was so good to be back!! To see evryone and the snow!! It was freezing when we got to Dublin……:( But we didnt mind!! It has taken me a while to settle in back home. I wasnt sleeping, had a bad headache and a very sore neck but I think all of it was from travelling and not sleeping right. But Im back on track again now.
My left eye is still sore from time to time, just a little tender but not too bad thank god! Im waiting to check the eye chart on a bright day to see what I can see now. I have more tests after christmas so I’m excited about that. At this point, I have not noticed much improvement, only from what i have seen on the eye chart and on tests but i think it will take some time. THE HEAD DOCTOR SAID IT WILL TAKE MUCH LONGER THIS TIME ROUND SO i GUESS i JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT!!
Well, Merry Christmas to everyone in China, everyone I met, all my family and friends and please god Christmas (and Santa) will bring and all my new friends the gift of sight and send some good improvements to me!!
xxxxxxx
December 17th, 2010
Hi there,
So sorry I haven’t blogged in a few days. Its been kinda hectic here. We had a great weekend downtown. It was really nice to get away after such a bad night last friday with the spinal. We stayed in the Intercontinental hotel which was fabulous! We spoiled ourselves and had a BIG huge dinner! We got to do some sught seeing and shopping before we headed back to the hospital.
Now to Monday……
I braved up enough courage to go ahead with the retro bulbar.I was so nervous all day and right up to the time of the procedure. At around 8pm, I was taken upstaris to the OR.Dr Ying, was great, very professional and was really sweet about it all. She knew how nervous I was and tried her best to ease my nerves. She poked around my eye for a few minutes before she told me to close them. I felt a little pinch and then she told me to open my eyes and look back. I didn’t feel any pain, just a very uncomfortable pressure, like my eye ball was about to pop out!! The injection was injected just below the eye, not in to the eye, after it my eye was kinda swollen and bruised. A little sore but not too bad. It felt like I was punched in the eye. But I must say, it was very easy and pain free compared to the spinal. I got in tin my left eye.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I had my usual therapies in the morning and afternoon and we were kept busy we them. Today I have my last treatment, which was supposed to be a spinal but Dr Ying changed it to an IV because she thought I wouldnt be able for another spinal so close to going home. I was delighted!! I am going to the eye hospital tomorrow so hopefully I will get some good news.
Lots of new people here, and lots of families just leaving too! Its amazing how everyone is here for the same reason!!
Anyway, I will write again tomorrow after we come back from downtown.
Lots of hugs and kisses
Valerie
December 3rd, 2010
Hello again from Qingdao
Well last night I had my 4th transfer, my 2nd spinal. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as smooth as the others. A different doctor done it for this this time, she had difficulty getting the right area, it took her 2 goes to get in in until she finally got in in on the 3rd with help from another doctor. The first and 2nd try, was complete agony!! I could feel sharp pain along my back and then it was pins and needles all done my legs. I was just about to tell her to stop when it stopped and it was done. THANK GOD!! I was pretty upset after, but the nurses and Matthew took good care of me. Thankfully, I was fine after, no pain etc and slept most of the night, I feel great today, surprisingly! My lower back, butt and back of legs are a little stiff but I feel great otherwise.
We think I have had enough spinals in one lifetime, and patients 2nd time round seem to have more discomfort with spianls.I am getting a retro bulber injection on Monday, and supposed to be another spinal on friday but I dont think my poor back will be able for it but we’ll see.
After all that, we decided to take a break and stay in a hotel downtown for the night. Just to get a good sleep, lie in and do some sightseeing on sunday.It will be nice to forget about last night and needles!!
Anyway, I shall write again after our trip. Hope ye are all enjoying the snow back home…..cant believe Im missing it!!
Lots of love
Valerie and Matthew
November 27th, 2010
Hi there,
I didn’t get to write over the last few days! I had my 3rd stem cell last Monday night via IV. I had to get the nurse to take the canula after as it was very sore, it had gone swelled up and very red so she took it out. She said she would have to put in another one if I got a temperature but luckily enough I didnt!!
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were fairly quite, I had acupuncture, electric wave in the morning and acupressure in the afternoon so it broke up the days nicely. We didnt do too much besides talking with others here and cooking!!
I have decided after much discussions to get a retro bulber injection, into the eye. My doc seems to think it will make a great difference. She says my right eye has better acutey but my left eye has better nerve function. So its up to me which eye!
Anyway, I am just waiting for my spinal now, so I will fill in the rest later.
Until then
Valerie
November 26th, 2010
Hi guys,
Well, its Sunday here and I will fill ye in the details of the spinal now. I had it around 9pm on friday evening. Dr Tony done it which I was delighted with, Melody was with me as well which was brill. I did think it was pretty painful. I felt every bit of it this time, but it didnt last long. I wasnt in agony or anything like that it was just uncomfortable sharp pain. But only lasted about a minute!!
I was great after, perfect temp and blood pressure. Slept right through the night. I was a bit sore Saturday, felt like I pulled a muscle in my lower back, but only when i got up from sitting to standing. We didnt do much, decided to rest instead. Lynn and Brian from Canada cooked us a big feast of speghetti and Gilles and Emilie brought fab desserts. We stayed up eating, drinking (not us patients of course) laughing, singing and talking until around 12. It was great fun!
Today, we went to century park, it was a fab day so we walked all around it. We went out for dinner, which was lovely! were just back now and were gonna settle in for the night. Tomorrow will be my 3rd stem cell via IV.
Night to all
Valerie and Matthew
November 21st, 2010
Well, hope everyone is keeping well. I am writing this on our 5th day here! But its really early Yesterday we had a busy, good day. It started very early at around 4 am. I havent adjusted to the time difference yet and havent been sleeping great. I had morning therapies with Andy until 10. We then sat on the lovely orange couches and chatted with others. We got a taxi to pizza hut and had a nice big feast for ourselves!!We were back then for 2 as I had accupressure with Andy….my god it was fabulous!! I was so relaxed after and my head felt great. My eyes were so tired from not sleeping that after I felt great. Melody and Joyce brought us down to where I had a chest xray and ECG, all were normal. We had a great laugh with the 2 girls. Matthew and Melody were learning from each other and lets just say it was hilarious!!From here, we skyped home,
We then made our tea, chatted with other families on the orange couches again!! We watched some shows on the laptop and I fell asleep around 10.30 and slept straight through until 5.30….it was well needed!! Finally a good night sleep.I skyped home to say goodnight to daddy and now Matthew is gone for a run
I have my 2nd injection tonight, a spinal. I m not too nervous about it, just hope it goes as well as all my others last time around.
Thats it for now, il write again later
Good night to all my Irish friends and good morning to all my chinese friends
xxx
November 19th, 2010
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