This is our last full day in China. It’s going to be sad to say goodbye to all our new friends here. These few days in Qingdao have been a fabulous experience. It has been a real pleasure being at Cheng Yang Hospital and we must thank them for their support of our endeavours to start Sailability China. Since arriving last week the Cheng Yang Hospital provided me with a van and driver to take me to various appointments. (more…)
Add comment July 18th, 2006
It’s early Sunday morning, so a quick update that has turned out to be not so quick……..
We are here in beautiful Qingdao. The Cheng Yang Hospital is close to the airport and about 60 km from the coast. The setup here is quite different from Nanshen Hospital in Shenzhen. Here, I am in a two room accommodation in a separate building from the hospital proper, but we are the only folks here at present. It is modern and comfortable and the staff are fantastic. Everyone speakss English in varying degrees. Our life has been made wonderfully easy as we have Katey who is our translator and makes appointments and communicates with out contacts about Sailability, and has become a good friend.
3 comments July 16th, 2006
Here we are already packing and getting ready for the journey to Qingdao later this morning. It’s a 3 hour flight, and as Amy will accompany us, it shouldnt prove too taxing. So we say our goodbyes to our many new friends here in Shenzhen with a touch of sadness, but also with excitment for the next adventure in Qingdao. (more…)
1 comment July 13th, 2006
Hurray….. more stem cells at last. Sounds like I have turned into a “stem cell junkie”, but no, just eager to get on with life. The procedure went very smoothly again, only took 10-15 minutes from beginning to end. Again the most difficult thing is laying still for 4-6 hours afterwards.
Remember – there are always people worse off than ourselves. Our life in Sailability constantly reminds us of that. Our good friend, Sir William Deane (past Governor General of Australia and Patron of the Access DInghy Foundation) wrote in the forward of our little book, “…… Get Your Bum Wet Again (the name of the book) reminds us of some of the important things in life – of generosity, of courage, of friendship, of true achievements, of sheer enjoyment of life even in circumstances of often profound disadvantage.”
People with a disability can have a joyous life and bring joy to the lives of those around them…. it is their peception of themselves and life that makes the difference. I remember reading once, “the difference between a rose and a weed, is just but a thought.” It’s our choice.
So, it is the next morning and no, I didn’t miraculously stand up and walk, but I didnt expect, or hope for that. I have a much firmer grasp of reality than that. But my legs and feet are warm again and this afternoon I’m back to Rehabilitation and Shung Way. On Thursday morning, before leaving Shenzhen I will give a bit of an overall assessment of where I am physically and then again before heading back to Sydney, and again regularly on the blog as time passes. It’s impossible to give a day by day commentary because it’s on again, off again; two steps forward and one stem back. I know that Seeva, my friend back in the MS Exercise class at Lidcome, is eager to hear the news – but hang in there mate, I dont want to give you false information. We all need to be patient and see what happens to my symptoms over the next few months.
Our tickets have been booked for Qingdao for Thursday afternoon. Jon has very kindly arranged for Amy to accompany us for the first few days to ensure a smooth re-location.
For the want of anything else, here is a photo of the Chinese side of the moon. That was about all I looked at last night, waiting for the time to pass.
2 comments July 11th, 2006
Yesterday’s adventure.
To satisfy a burning need from my sister, Lynne, we needed to find postcards. It seems that the sending of postcards isnt a popular pass-time in China because none of the shops or kiosks sell them. Anyway we were eventually directed to the Post Office which is about a 20 minute walk….. so it is a fair distant. (more…)
Add comment July 10th, 2006
Ah well. A bit more disappointment yesterday. Still no stem cells for Jackie. Still, I am scheduled for more on Monday and then again on Friday, before we head up to Qingdao on Sunday, so all is well.
Yesterday my time in Rehab was extended to include 20 minutes on the standing table. This is where you lay on a table and are strapped on. Then it tilts up so that you are in a standing position. At the time my body didnt feel like it was doing much work, but I certainly knew it once I was down again. So, it is the weekend now and we’ll have a rest from rehab and be ready to get stuck back into it next week……… our last week in Shenzhen.
Jon has kindly arranged for me to continue my daily rehabilitation at the hospital in Qingdao when we go there to talk to people about Sailability. This is most welcome as I believe that significant benefits are occurring through the rehabilitation. And while in Qingdao, Jon has also arranged for me to receive a 5th injection by I/V.
This morning while standing by the window there was the most amazing sight. A cart being pulled by a fellow on foot, was piled about 2 metres high. He was pulling the cart while the cars, buses and trucks were wizzing all around him. It was pretty impressive. Shenzhen is a modern and thriving city and then you see the fellows carrying massive loads on the bikes and hand carts. Our occupational health & safety guys wouldnt understand I dont think. Photo below.
Add comment July 8th, 2006
The doctor and Jon have just been. I told them that I had warm feet and no pain. The doctor felt my legs and said that no, they felt cold to touch still. Believe it or not, this is great news – I have cold feet and do NOT FEEL PAIN. Very interesting.
OK, friends from my MS Exercise Class at Lidcombe. Settle down and let’s see the long term outcomes. You know that things change as often as the direction of the wind.
1 comment July 7th, 2006
I did write my blog for yesterday but just as I pressed the publish button the server crashed and we lost it………. and I didnt want to do it again, so didnt ! ! !
Wednesday’s scheduled 3rd stem cell treatment was postponed due to a problem with production. It is re-scheduled for this afternoon. So fingers crossed we can get on with it today. This was really disappointing, but it’s important for us to get the “good stuff”. (more…)
Add comment July 7th, 2006
Yesterday was more of the same. Resting, eating, rehab, a visit by drs. and nurses, chatting with the other patients. It is a bit of an emotional roller coaster. When I’m feeling physically well, Im on top of the world, then at other times not feeling so good. There are the expected headaches of course, but nothing too bad. They are more annoying than painful. At least I had a fabulous sleep last night, so I am in the right frame of mind to attack today with gusto. (more…)
1 comment July 5th, 2006
