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
Day one ShenZhen China 8/31/06
Hello!
Here is the first update from ShenZhen!
We arrived safely in Hong Kong as planned. We were met by our driver as promised when we arrived. Grace had made the arrangements and the driver was there with the sign with David’s name on it just like she said. The employees at the Hong Kong airport were very helpful. They helped us until we had lifted Dave into the van, and were safely on our way.
The trip from Hong Kong to ShenZhen by car was beautiful. Hong Kong is nesstled in the valley at the bottom of a mountain range at the base of the ocean. Green mountains all around and blue water…clean and everyone very professional and helpful. English is a language spoken there.
Just a little about the arrival at the airport before I continue and forget. Our arrival at the airport was easy and seamless. We had 2 vans due to all our luggage and David’s 2 wheel chairs. David was lifted into the van by 4 of us, and it is the first time he has sat by himself in a van on the seat with just a seatbelt and not a wheelchair since his injury! We were then off to ShenZhen. I have a picture of Dave sitting in the back seat! He looks shocked and amazed!
ShenZhen is a very large city with 10 million people. We arrived at morning rush hour when you see everyone packed into buses, women walking on sunny days with umbrellas, bicycles everywhere with baskets, and large bottles of water on the back. It is like old city/new city all mixed into one. ShenZhen is a bustling city…and a typical city. Big city smells…..many to say the least! It is extremely warm and humid even early in the morning and early evening, and just plain hot in the middle of the day.
The hospital is located in the city center. The stem cell unit was moving the day we arrived from the 19th floor to the 14th floor due to the rapid increase in growth within the last 9 months. David and Norma’s room was not quite ready due to the move, but I must say the Chinese know how to get things done when they can understand what you need. The first 24 hours was a little different due to the language barriers, and cultural differences, but you adjust and that is just something that time and interaction seem to manage. Jon, has hired 5 very capable employees, who speak English and translate for us. I had bought a chinese/english dictionary, and we have learned to have the chinese write the phrases or words we need on index cards and we show them to the chinese when we need something when translators are not around and it has worked quite well. In the United State you can purchase the book at Barnes and Noble. The Chinese love the dictionary and always want to look at it. They chuckle when they see me pull it out of my purse and communicate! It just works!
David is a quad. c3-c4 who was injured on 5/25/02. He is an imcomplete injury. Initially he was on a ventilator for 9 months and successfully weaned off the ventilator and had his Trach. removed thanks to the weaning program at Craig Hospital.
David had his evaluation by the Dr. about 1 hour after we arrived. They were impressed with how much he has maintained and gained in the 4 years since his injury. They are hopeful with aggressive rehab that they can help David to stand. They did advise him to lose weight while he is here so that his legs can hold his weight more easily. Yesterday we were all exhausted by 6pm after the long flight and all fell asleep by 8pm.
Today, I ventured off to Walmart Super Center with a Chinese employee to get David the extras supplies he needed. While I was gone, he and Norma ventured out to lunch and then David was off to Occupational Therapy, and lab testing, EKG, and an EMG. He had a one hour IV of traditional chinese herbal medicine that is supposed to build up the support system for the stem cells. He will receive his first stem cells on Weds. our time, by lumbar puncture. They have to prepare the stem cells specifically for David. They are fresh not frozen stem cells. If he does not develop any side effects he will receive another treatment on Monday and Friday for example. It all depends on how he does. He has therapy everyday, except Sundays. Sunday is the Chinese day of rest.
What is amazing is that there are at least 4 other families here from the US, all with children of different ages and diagnosises. Norma and I could not beleive all the children in the rehab room. Usually you see, older people in there. There are alot of children here with different problems. There were 2 spinal cord injuries here but one left several days after we arrived. There is another spinal cord injury patient still here who extended his time hre by another month. When you look into the eyes of every patient and family here, they are all so full of hope. There are people here from everywhere. The word is out…..HOPE LIVES HERE.
Tomorrow is Saturday, and David will have his physical therapy, massage, accupuncture and occupational therapy. He is doing very well, and sends all his love to everyone, and thanks you for your prayers and support.
We hired a chinese male helper for Norma and that has made her life easier with the activities of daily living for David. He is smart as a whip and catches on so quickly. The language barrier is one that you can work through very quickly and set up a great routine.
Changes for some are greater than others, but everyone leaves here with something. They all come with hope and that hope becomes more reality than ever when they return home.
1 comment September 8th, 2006
