Jim’s MSA Blog

Stem cell treatment #3

August 5th, 2007

Jim had his third stem cell treatment (second spinal) on Wednesday, August the 1st. He had electro and physical therapy in the morning, but choose to cut short the acpuncture. The electric currents attached to the acpuncture needles are a little tough for him to handle and he wanted to be rested for the stem cell treatment in the afternoon.

The actual spinal treatments take no more than a half hour. When Jim was wheeled back into our room he was a bit groggy and surprisingly did not ask for his ipod. He wanted to be turned on his side (this is allowed as long as the head does not move upward at all). He was tired and wanted to sleep. A while later one of the nurses awakened him and asked how he was feeling. “HUNGRY!” was the reply. “No, no…are you feeling good?” she asked again. “I’m in a hospital…how good could I feel!” Smarty pants.

He went back to sleep, waking a few hours later and again, asking when he could eat. That’s our boy. At four hours the nurses said he could eat something, but could not raise his head for another two hours. It’s tricky eating while you’re lying down, especially for Jim who can choke easily. But I found that spooned applesauce and mango juice (thank you Meng) through a straw did the trick. He closed his eyes again and was smiling, talking, and at times even shouting out in his sleep.

Thursday morning Jim was feeling a little rough…the hangover thing again…and passed on the morning electric wave therapy.

Later in the morning James got him up on the parallel bars for physical therapy and added a little twist: tossing a large, soft ball to Jim as he stood between the rails. I was surprised at Jim’s coordination in being able to use both hands to catch the ball and throw it back, without losing his balance.

It’s a huge effort for Jim to walk, partly because the disease has caused a significant stoop in posture and a chin-to-chest position of his head. He and James work dilligently on the parallel bars everyday to improve this. There is a large mirror so patients can see their posture as they move. Anchored to the floor of the bars is a 6 inch tall plank of wood running straight down the middle. This visual guide encourages proper feet alignment. Then there are movable triangular stops, also about 6 inches high, placed between each step so that patients must lift their feet to clear them. James walks along side the bars, tapping Jim’s back to remind him to stand tall, repeating the mantra, “head up, head up!”

As I watch I’m struck by the irony. Jim has kept his chin up with such incredible courage and spirit throughout his battle with this devastating disease.

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