Two weeks since the Stem Cells

It is hard to believe that it has been 2 weeks since Suzie and I were in warm, sunny Mexico.  I talked with her this evening on the way home from work and we both agreed that with all the snow we that we have had in Kansas City and Denver and with the single digit and below zero temperatures, it is time to go back to Tijauana and get me a booster.  J

Things have been going very well.  I get up at 5:10am and spend about 20-30 minutes doing my exercises.  During the night, my legs seem to tighten up a bit in the calves so doing this in the morning stretches them out and gets me ready for the day.

I haven’t seen any huge changes since I have been back home like I did in Mexico.  But I guess that is to be expected.  This disease has gradually done its damage in my body for over 15 years.  So it only comes to reason that I will not see an immediate improvement on everything in just 2 weeks.  I feel like I am getting better with each day, though.  Remember in an earlier post that I said I burned my hand by spilling coffee on it while walking after Sunday Mass?  Well, this past Sunday, I picked up a FULL cup of coffee and walked to the table to sit down and didn’t spill a drop! A small thing?  Yes.  But I was excited about it and share that experience with the people at the table.

I can walk down the stairs now without holding on to the rail if I need to. Michael, my son, came home from college this past weekend to see me.  It was nice of him to think of me and I really appreciated that!  I asked him to take some items downstairs and he did.  I followed with a glass of water and a plastic grocery bag full of items in my right hand and a case of water under my left arm.  When I got to the bottom where Michael was waiting, he stood there with his mouth wide open and said “way to go, Dad!”.  Now, I didn’t go down really fast but 3 weeks ago I couldn’t have even walked down the stairs empty handed without holding on to the railing.  Another small bit of progress.

The other day, I was lounging on the bed watching a basketball game and doing some work on my laptop.  I needed to do something in the other room so I got off the bed and started to walk towards the door when my foot caught the laptop cord that was plugged into the wall.  I stumbled but was able to recover my balance quickly enough that I didn’t fall.  Three weeks ago, I would have tumbled to the ground.  At my age, that sudden stop is really a jolt to the old body and I have had my share of falls over the last several years.  Not falling really amazed me and I had a big smile on my face as I walked into the other room.  Again, just something small that we all take for granted.

These are just a couple of little things that got me excited about my progress and I really look forward to all the next “little things” that will come back into my life.

Again… Thank you to all of you for your continued prayers and financial support!

God Bess!

From a Sister’s Viewpoint

So, when my big brother Stan told me in 1995 that he was diagnosed with MS, I cried for a week. My background as a Physical Therapist showed me first hand the debilitating effects of this terrible disease, so I was familiar with the road he was traveling.

Last year, when Stan started to tell me about his research of adult stem cell therapy, I supported his efforts. When he asked me to accompany him to Mexico, I felt honored and excited to experience this journey first hand.

It seemed like an eternity to plan for the trip to Mexico, but as I was driving to DIA on Jan. 22 to pick Stan up, it seemed almost surreal that the time had finally come.

Of course, being the Physical Therapist I naturally am, I had to test his balance, strength, range of motion, and coordination before we left on our trip. We documented it well to compare to the results following the stem cell therapy.

So, as we set out on our trip to Tijuana, my head was filled with cautious optimism and my heart was filled with prayerful hope.

As Stan already described his daily experiences and facts in his blog, we were treated with incredible hospitality and respect. Everyone was very friendly and made us feel at home. The medical staff always answered all our questions and even went out of their way to find answers if they were unsure.

It was hard at times to watch Stan get all his injections and have some adverse side effects, but I knew all was going to be all right as he kept his positive attitude. I prayed as the hole was drilled in his tibia to obtain the stem cells, and I prayed even more as they poked a tube into his spinal canal. Being in the medical field has its disadvantages, as I also know the risks involved with these procedures. But, the doctors were very knowledgeable and skilled; their God-given talents were being used in a perfect manner.

As I saw the miraculous results of the stem cell therapy begin to unfold the next morning, I jumped up and down with joy, gave high fives, and gave thanks to God. I expressed my gratitude to all the staff, in both English and Spanish!

The day after the stem cell procedure, after Antonio did manual therapy and exercises with Stan, tears filled my eyes as Stan easily stood up off the floor in a well balanced manner and walked without limping to the bathroom! I said out loud, “Did you see that?!” Dr. Andrade was also very excited, telling me that I was the expert to notice those details. After that, Dr. Andrade kept asking me what progress I observed. Antonio had explained to me the first day that he was not trained the same way that I was. He explained in his broken English that he received his knowledge of his manual skills from his father, his grandfather, and God. He certainly has the healing touch.

Having Dr Andrade pray before the procedure and giving thanks in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with Antonio on Friday were very special times.

The Physical Therapy test results for balance were incredible, going from 44/56 on Jan 22 to 54/56 on Jan 30. Stan’s strength and sensation have improved, as well as his gait pattern. He still has a lot of work ahead of him, with daily exercise routines, healthy eating habits, vitamin/homeopathy regimens, decreasing stress, and practicing his Spanish, although I think he finally learned the handshake! I know that he has great friends and family who love him and will be supportive in these efforts. Thank you for that! Also, thank you so much for all the financial donations which helped make this trip possible. We will continue fund raising efforts to reach the goal. Most importantly, thank you for your prayers. God certainly has been listening!

So, after I drove Stan to DIA to return home on Jan 30, reality finally set in. Stan had successfully received adult stem cell therapy, with the help of his family and friends and God, and he is on his way to once again having a healthy, active life.

As I continued driving home, I said another prayer of thanksgiving and this time, the tears rolling down my cheeks were tears of thanksgiving to God and tears of joy!