Add comment October 3rd, 2006
Pics Of David sitting,dave lifting arms with weights,Rehab. at Nanshan Hospital
Add comment October 3rd, 2006
Final blog while Dave is in China 10/1/06
Hi all,
This is my final update on Dave, while he is in China. It is Monday in China, and their flight leaves at 9:55 pm, Monday night from Hong Kong.
First of all Dave can now move his legs like he is swimming and he can also bend his own knees like he is walking! He is also getting more movement in the fingers in his hands. He feels the biggest improvement is his breathing. He feels it is so much stronger. He still has good days and hazy days with his sight. Yesterday, was a good day for his sight according to Paul. He had his last stem cell injection on Sat.
The biggest thing for David right now is he offered a position to one of the physical therapists, named Martin, who has been the one who has helped Dave accomplish alot of what he has in rehab. David wants Martin to come live in Florida, and give him the continued rehab. he has received in China, 6 hours a day, 6 days a week. He pushes Dave, Dave likes to be challanged and Martin has been awesome at that! Martin does accupuncture as well as all the other treatment modalities. Dave and Paul have been in negotitations with Martin and have been ironing out all the details in the contract for this to take place. It is a big step for everyone. I haven’t heard the final on that one, but it is a giant step in continuing the process that has begun in China.
I am guessing at this one being a 1/2 of a world away, but Dave must see the light at the end of that dark tunnel finally, and he probably feels like it is not that big train coming at him anymore!
Like I have said all along, Hope Lives Here and I believe that light is the hope for a better quality of life that Dave has been given the opportunity to achieve. He knows that the work does not stop once he leaves China, the work has only just begun!
I just need to make sure that I acknowledge the commitment and sacrafices that
many have made for David to be where he is today. The first is Norma. she has made the month long commitment to be away from her other job and her own family and friends to be there for David. She has provided him with the nursing services and support he has needed all month long. David could not have made this trip without Norma’s support and nursing care.
There is one other person who should also be recognized for their undying brotherly love and sacrafices he has made to make this all happen for David.
I am sure he is embarrassed at my saying this, but I will take that leap of faith and say it anyway. That would be Paul. He is the reason that this is all possible for Dave, without Paul’s support financially, personally, and emotionally, these miracles would never have taken place for David.
Last but not least is the acknowledgement of David himself. David has worked harder in rehab. than any other patient I saw in that clinic. He has gotten the truest taste of how much he still has to gain in this lifetime from the honest to goodness hard work. You get out of it what you put into it. His attitude towards his recovery has determined his altitude, ( as Bonny said), and he did shoot for the moon (as mike & Mona said). ( many more quotes, just can’t remember them all at this writing)
David is living proof of what real hope can truly give someone.
Hope is what keeps someone from giving up when they feel they just can’t do it anymore.. Hope is what remains in the heart of a true believer. It is hope, faith and love that are the true gifts that one can be given in this lifetime. Each and everyone of you are an example of that love. It is that love that is the truest gift that Dave could ever recieve on God’s good earth. Thank you for your thoughts and prays for David and his recovery. There are so many of you out there that David doesn’t even know about, who have prayed for David since his injury. To all your family, and friends, thank you for your undying support previously, now, and in the future.
Thank you’s also must go out to the entire staff of STEM CELLS CHINA, for making this program possible for people like Dave. Thank you for all the extra effort you have put into assisting us and all the others, and making the Stem Cells Unit a home away from home.
Thank you’s also go out to all the staff, Drs.,nurses, Ot’s and Pt’s and helpers at the Nanshan Hospital, in ShenZhen.
Dave also wanted 2 others to be recognized, and that is his Mom and Dad.
They were there every single day, the entire time Dave was so sick and in the hospital. He cries whenever he tries to talk about it, so I decided it was time to put it in this broadcast, and that Dave thanks them for their love and commitment to him.
Let us all learn from this experience……whatever appreciations and lessons we may.
Like Mother Threse said,”God does not command us to do great things….just little things with great love”.
2 comments October 2nd, 2006
Another subtle change for Dave 9/22/06
Dave was having a massage at this wonderful place in ShenZhen, and his left hip was really bothering him, and he was uncomfortable for at least a week, so he booked a massage before he had his last lumbar puncture because he knew he would be still having to lie flat for 6 hours. During his massage he realized that all of a sudden he was actually rubbing his own hip!! I actually wasn’t there to see it myself, but Dave couldn’t wait to tell me about it when he saw me. Dave was thrilled to say the least, he couldn’t stop talking about it! Things are so suttle when you realize they are happening and they are things Dave used to do, and hasn’t done them since the injury. When he does them, it is like wait a minute, did you see that? You have to validate what you saw, because it is so suttle you almost think that it didn’t happen. Dave just beams like a little kid when he realizes he has done something new.
Dave has worked very hard in rehab, and his determination is making him push himself more than I would have imagined. He works very, very hard in therapy, but the benfits are paying off for him for sure. It seems that the standing board is the hardest for Dave, and makes him the most sore. His feet, legs and hips ache, and I believe that it is due to the stretching and use of all those muscle, joints, tendons and ligaments that he hasn’t used in 4 1/2 years. That is why he was having his heavenly foot massage again.
We all feel that the best thing he can do for himself when he returns home is to continue the diligent therapies and rehab. on a daily basis like he is doing here. That is the biggest hurdle for him when he returns home. If you have a chronic problem, you are limited by the number of rehab. treatments you are allowed, and this is the biggest hurdle all people face like Dave. The stem cells need a chance to lodge where they need to be and grow, and regenerate where they will. Dave will continue to see gains once he returns home, and not just here in China. The key for everyone with an SCI injury to keep their muscles and joints from stiffening, wasting and contracting is the daily rehab. and treatment modalities to be continued. I cannot stress that point enough. David’s combintation of therapies has proven that fact in this trip here to China. Some of the rehab. is just back to the basics that everyone can do on their own if they stay motiviated and make it part of their daily rountine, So to all of you out there who are waiting until you can have stem cells, get yourself on a regular schedule of exercises daily. Have you care givers assist you to do the things that you cannot do on your own, and make this part of your daily routine. Strengthen everything you can and build your core and even with that you will notice big gains. Stay motivated and focused, because the benefits you reap will be worth the effort. If there is anything we have all learned from this trip to China, it is the importance of using basic eveyday exercises to build yourself back up. You will not only benefit physcially, but you will benefit emotionally. Never give up hope, ever.
1 comment September 25th, 2006
Hello again to everyone from David in China
Dave seems to have leveled off a bit and has definitely seen some suttle changes. Some of the changes that he has noticed that are just more suttle are as follows: he feels his breathing is stronger, his voice is stronger when he speaks and he also feels general over all improvement in his core strength. He is still dealing with his vision fading in and out where some days he sees better than others. I think this will be the case until things level off a bit. He is able to lift his hands up to his chin from a sitting position which he was only able to do from a reclined position before. He can now use his hand to rub his own hip when it bothers him. To us with full mobility, we do these things unconsiously. To those with these disabilities, these are major leaps and bounds. We all believe that all the modalities, and David’s hard work, along with the stem cells has made all these improvements possible. David will be leaving on 10/2 to return home. That is just a week away. He had another IV stem cell treatment on Monday, and he will have 1 more L.P. stem cell treatment on Sat. That will be his last. He will return home and continue all the rehab. on a daily basis to improve his on going progress. We knew when we travelled here that there were not guarantees, everyone is different, but David has worked hard, the modalities are a comibnation of things that all seem to work if the person participates at their full capacity. Like Dave’s friend Bonny said, “Your altitude depends on your attitude”, and she sure was right. Will do another post in a few days so stay tuned!
1 comment September 25th, 2006
David’s progression!
Hello everyone,
Dave’s eyesite continutes to improve. He does have days that are a little more off than others, where it seems his vision is more hazy than others, and some of this seems to be when he is more tired. We haven’t quite fiugured it all out, but he definitely sees better and can read so many things! It is just amazing!
Dave welcomes all emails and I even print the comments from this blog for him to read. The responses are so heartfelt and everyone is struggling with all the issues that Dave struggles with, with this disabliltiy. Any treatment offers hope to all.
Please be sure to make the font larger so that Dave can read them himself!!
Yes, that is what I said! David is now reading his own emails.
Dave’s eyesight since the last email has just progressed. Let me explain, originally, he could see. but said that his vision was inconsistent. It seemed to be clear then would get fuzzier. He has had an eye exam, and his vision is great! He does need reading glasses, but he just seems to be improving with time! It is such a gift, and it was one of the hopes Dave had before he came. He feels he will now be able to use the computer, and because he will be able to see the screen. Won’t it be fabulous….. the first email we all receive from him…..I am sure all of you cannot wait. Dave’s eyesite improving will make his quality of life so much better, and that is one of the things we had hoped and prayed for.
David had his 3rd Stem Cell on Tuesday. It was much easier than the rest because this one was by IV, and there is no down time. Dave received the IV sitting in his wheelchair. The IV circulates through the blood stream to all the major organs. There are a minimum of 10,000,000 stem cells in every injection! Think of all the organs those can travel to by IV!
When he receives the lumbar puncture, the stem cells are in the closed spinal fluid system inside the spinal cord and are hopefully concentrating on the areas of the brain that may have suffered anoxia, and the areas of the spinal cord where the signals are crossed, and lodge and start regenerating in the areas of need in his spine. Dave’s next stem cell treatment is via lumbar puncture again. He will receive a total of 6 stem cell treatments before he leaves to head home. 4 will be by lumbar puncture and 2 via IV, totalling 6. It is a tight schedule, but it seems that they will all be fit in before Dave has to leave! Thank you to Jon and all his wonderful staff for making that happen for Dave.
There are a couple of more things that have happened to Dave that are very positive. He is gaining more core strength, and was able to lift his hips up off the rehab. table. He has NEVER been able to do that. He was so pumped after he realized he had done it!( Leta Sharkey was there with her friend Mary Beth to see the whole thing too. She travled here from the US to see the miracles going on here in China.) We got that one on video too! Another improvement Dave has noticed is that he can move the fingers on his left hand more, and he can feel warm things! He could feel the warm face cloth at dinner last night, they gave us to wash our hands. That was the first time he realized that change. Norma had put the cloth on his hand and he could feel the warmth! Today when Norma was getting him ready to head to Rehab., he put his hand in the warm water and could feel that it was warm too!! He is thrilled. Things are so suttle and it seems that you just seem to all of a sudden notice them ,one by one.
National Geographic did come and interview Dave and he did a fabulous job. We were very proud of him, and I did video them taping Dave. The documentary will be out in about one year from now. I am sure Dave will let you all know when it will air on the National Geographic channel. The producer gave Dave a bouquet of Lillies, and 2 containers of yummy cookies too! She was great, and Dave could see her too!
Who would have thought even one year ago this would all be taking place, half the world away. Dave admittingly told N.G. he was a bit of a risk taker, and this is one risk that was definitely worth taking!
Just think what the potential is, and what the future holds, for many diseases, and chronic problems like Dave’s. The possibilites are endless………….
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers………the prayers are surely being answered from our perspective!
I am sure Dave is anxious to get home and tell all of you, all the wonderful things that I can not possilby share in an email. Good thing Dave has call waiting! I think he’ll be burning up the phone lines when he gets home!
Blessings to you all, and thank you for your encouraging emails, your thoughts and all your prayers,
2 comments September 25th, 2006
ShenZhen China 9/16/06
Dave is now reading his own large print emails from friends and family! He is so thrilled! He hasn’t been able to read in 41/2 years. He reads slowly of course since it has been so long, and his brain needs to reconnect but wiith practice this too shall improve. It is just amazing that he is reading at all. He really read very well, and of course we captured it on video and with still pictures. Some of the changes are so suttle that they really can go unnoticed at first, such as the decrease in pain and spasms. You realize during one of the transfers that the spasms are less. Then you start realizing that the imrovements are more than you realized or even hoped for. Dave’s eyesight improving was a big hope for him, and he is hoping for continued improvement with time. His independence depends on his visual capabilities with his other disabilities, so pray for the best. Never, ever give up hope. More to come in the next several days, but didn’t want to wait to advise others of this change!
5 comments September 17th, 2006
Great things happening for Dave here in China 9/13/06
Hello everyone,
It is now day 14 for us here in Shenzhen, China. We have been quite busy with therapy and just getting to know China within
2 comments September 13th, 2006
Shenzhen Day 4-7 log, 9/6/06
Hello everyone!
Wow, have we got a few things to share in this blog! David has been having rehab twice a day which includes massage, accupucture, exercise, occupational therapy, standing board etc. Very much hands on treatment here in China, something that has been lost in Western Medicine, and technology has taken over.
Well, Monday, 1 hour before his first stem cells he was reclined in his wheelchair, and Norma and I were sitting in his room chatting. All of a sudden David sat straight up in his chair from a reclined position! Norma and I looked at each other and I ran over to David and his eyes were bugging out of his head! Out of the clear blue he just sat straight up! He scared himself! It was so amazing! David can do a forward bend from a sitting position in his wheelchair, but he has never been able to do a sit up from a reclined position! After we all got temporarily over the shock of it all, Norma and I ran and grabbed the video and the still camera and said David, do it again. He did! Over and over. He wasn’t able to go as straight as that first time but he did it. In rehab. the last 2 mornings he has done it on the flat rehab. table over and over and sits straight up! He is also turning himself with assistance onto his side.
I am telling you there is something that wants to wake up there!
He had his first stem cell treatment about 3:30 on Monday 9/4 and he had to lay flat in bed for 5-6 hours. He did well. His back was sore because he had a lumbar puncture, but other than that we have seen no side effects.
We realized also today that David is having minimal if any lower extremety spasms. Used to be any time we moved him around he would spasm without fail. Even on Baclofen. Those spasms have nearly stopped! David also says that his pain is 50% less. He needed pain medication at least 2-4 times a day. Today, he didn’t take any!
Sometimes the changes seem so suttle, but they are there. With all the combined therapies offered here, it is definitely a winning combination of therapies that seem to be working for David. David works hard in therapy when he is there, and he is benefiting from it all. It is too early to tell just what is happening but we are on the cutting edge and breaking new gounds here.
They had Dave stand on the standing board, and he loved it. He smiled the whole time. He said he could breath much better, and it just felt good. He was a little sore tonight because he is not used to it. We had to leave his shoes on because his lower extremeties are very weak, and his ankles want to turn. Dave had the sensation that he could stand, even though he could not really feel if his feet were totally flat. He loved that sensation of standing and what a great thrill. Those of us who stand just take it for granted.
Dave went to the park beside the hospital where he basked in the humid and hot ShenZhen sun, and he loved every minute of it. Norma and I were dying from the heat, but old Davey boy just couldn’t get enough of it. It was nice for him to get outside.
So many little stories to tell, and I am sure Dave will fill everyone in when he gets home.
Best wishes to all!
Add comment September 8th, 2006
Shenzhen 9/2/06
Hi,
Very busy day here with David. He had another chinese IV medicine therapy, his first shower in the tiny shower chair ( made for the narrow small chinese people), and OT, PT Accupuncture and massage! David said that his legs always feel dead and cool, but at the end of the therapies he said they felt dead and warm.
He also felt like he had the sensation that he could walk. He tried in his wheelchair, but could not, but he had still had that sensation in his mind. There is something that wants to wake up there!
After the busy day we were all anxious to get out of the hospital and try something new so we went to eat at the 2nd floor restraunt here at the hotel. Grace recommended it because the chinese food is authentic, good and they have fresh fish. We had grouper that you share, they cook the whole fish. MMMMM…..It was very good and the service was great. There was a chinese wedding reception there too and they were playing white christmas! It was so funny. Dave, Norma and I really had a good time getting out of the hospital.
We are getting more oriented to our surroundings in the hospital and finding more things available to us now that the move is almost finished from the 19th to the 14th floor.
Everyone is off tomorrow, except the nurses so it is a day of rest for everyone.
They are going to give Dave his first stem cells on Monday instead of Weds! We were thrilled to find that out today. Norma and my gut tell us that we think David is going to notice a good result from this. He has the right mind set and he wants it so bad.
Everyone is still a little amazed at him due to his size, and his ever present electric wheelchair.They are in awe of it all. They are starting to get more used to him, and the pieces are all starting to fall into place for everything. By talking with Grace, Liz and Amy the pieces of the puzzle all fall together very well. Everyone here bends over backwards to make you comfortable and to inusure your needs are met. You easily settle into a new rountine and temporary life here in ShenZhen
Having Norma here keeps Dave calmer and more self assured, about his unfamiliar surroundings. He has done quite well I must say. It will be interesting to see how the stem cells go. He has to lie flat for 5-6 hours after the lumbar puncture, and that is tuff for him to do. He gets so stiff.
The culture here is so different from America….We have so much and we waste so much too. We take for granted all the things we have. It is amazing how the chinese all do well without all the “stuff” we all have!
Going to sign off for now, but wanted to give everyone the run down for today.
Dave sends his love to everyone.
1 comment September 8th, 2006
