Jackie Kay’s Blog

Let the Games begin - Monday Sept 8

September 8th, 2008

Chris and I have been in Qingdao for one week now.  This trip to China is very different to the last one in 2006.  We have specifically come at this time because the Paralympic Sailing Competition is being held here now.  Chris and I are very honoured to be guests of the International Paralympic Sports Federation for this regatta, giving us full access to all areas of the venues and invited to all official functions.  Today was the first day of racing.  Chris is at the Sailing Venue and I am here at the Chengyang Peoples’ Hospital.

On this trip I am having 4 x I/V stem cell treatments while combining attending the Paralympic sailing.  Today I received my second transplant.  I know that to receive maximum benefit I should be also receiving the stem cells via spinal, but this time it is difficult timewise while having to travel between the Chengyang People’s Hospital and the Olympic/Paralympic Sailing Venue in downtown Qingdao, 60km away. 

When I was here in 2006 the Stem Cell Unit was then located in a temporary building within the hospital grounds.  I used to watch the new hospital being built.  Now I am enjoying the fantastically comfortable, fully wheelchair accessible facilities on the 8th and 9th floor in the VIP Unit in the new hospital.  It was wonderful meeting up with old friends, the Unit Administer, Hongwei (Wade) and nurse, Yolanda who both took very good care of us in 2006.  My other favourite nurse, Hellan is off on maternity leave having given birth to a little boy four months ago.  As usual, the standard of medical care here is exceptional.  The nurses all speak English so communication is no problem.

Before coming back I was asked to send in an updated Registration Form.   In the section for Current Symptons I thought that seeing as how condition had remained so stable that I would cut & paste symptoms from  the first Registration Form.  Well, was I very surprised to realise that I was able to delete numerous symptoms.  Their decline was so subtle I didn’t even notice they were going and even forgot that I used have them.  These symptoms included the tight band feeling around my torso, blurred vision when I got tired, having a nap every afternoon.  So from what I can gather from this, my condition has continued to improve for quite a while and remain stable for the full two years.  How amazing is that?

Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) I will return to the Sailing venue and return to Chengyang Hospital on Thursday for the third I/V treatment on Friday.

Yesterday Chris and I were invited to speak at the Happy Alice English School.  We spoke about disability awareness, wheelchair etiquette and of course sailing to about twenty 10-12 year old students.  We had great fun when the students were given the task of taking me into the local shopping centre to find a wheelchair accessible toilet.  Me with about fifteen children all vying to have a go pushing my wheelchair through the crowd - I think we made quite a spectacle.

Here are some photos of our trip so far:

HAPPY ALICE ENGLISH SCHOOL
Students attend English classes Saturdays and Sundays for 4 years.

QINGDAO
Beautiful downtown Qingdao viewed from the sailing course.

KATEY & JACKIE
In 2006 Katey was our translator assisting with meetings to establish Sailability China. Now Katey is a very dear friend.  For the Paralympics she is Secretary to the Jury for the regatta.  Photo taken at a dinner with Team Portugal last Wednesday.

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