First of all - if anyone is reading this in an effort to learn more about the stem cell treatment for themselves or loved ones and have questions that you would like to ask, please, please feel free to contact me at: frgorton@charter.net. I'm sure that I won't have your answers but will certainly do whatever I can to try to help. If not for the generosity of others sharing their story and their time, my brother may have never made to decision to pursue stem cell treatment and it would do me good to somehow "pay it forward."
Skeet, **** and **** came home last Friday as planned. I guess Skeet did experience some discomfort following the implantation but I don't believe that it was so severe that they were concerned - just a matter of figuring out how to deal with it. Here's the note I got from Peggy yesterday:
Our two final days in Germany were hectic. Skeeter had stomach problems on Wednesday evening into Thursday (remember he had the implantation on Wednesday) and Pepto-Bismo didn't help. Thursday and into Friday he had THE headache and general body aches. He really hurt when he coughed or sneezed. He used up the Ibuprofen the doctor sent with him so on Friday I gave him one Aleve. He had vague improvement so about an hour later, I gave him a second Aleve which gave him relief from the head and body aches. The aches didn't come back.
We were so fortunate to make all our flights since it was standby all the way home. I can't rave about the airline service enough! They were so accommodating! All airline personnel (except for one attendant) went out of their way to help Skeeter in any possible way. One airline attendant's comment was "You're in my house now". One pilot even allowed us to take his picture with Mary Catherine.
I am really encouraged already about Skeeter's treatment. We were up for more than 24 hours coming home and Skeeter did exceptionally well. He was tired, but it was a normal tired. Usually when he gets fatigued he experiences abnormal dizziness, his eyesight gets blurry, the shakiness gets more pronounced and his speech becomes more slurred. Those symptoms were minimal.
Skeet's next visit with his neurology doctor is November 17. I will be interested to see if he notes a difference/improvement with Skeeter. Our Dad says Skeet's speech is already better because he can hear him and understand him and you know Dad can't hear well at all. We will report to you at least once a week now. If you have any specific questions, we will try to answer them.
Love me n skeet
This is so encouraging, but the cautious part of me thinks it may be too good to be true (at least this early in the treatment) so I am reserving my own thoughts on his progress until after the doctor's visit on Nov. 17 and even a few months on down the road.
**** and Nicole again made the trip to SFO to see Skeet, Peg and **** during the layover and even they said that they noticed improvement in his speech and that was only 2 days after the treatment - is it really possible that a change can be seen that early??? A direct quote from ****(via Facebook): "It totally helped ****. I could understand every word he said when they got back. Even though he was so tired from being up almost 24hrs he had a sparkle in his eye which wasn't there before!!" And one from ****: "I totally agree with ****! It was a HUGE difference from just one week before! Glad that he is not too tired! I think all the prayers helped...so everyone keep 'em comin'!" THANK YOU, **** AND **** FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GO SEE SKEET!! For him to know how much you love him and are there for him means the world to Skeet.
And, finally a note to my sister, Peggy - I LOVE YOU!! (I don't know how to really say what I am feeling about you taking the time to keep me updated on the process/progress. And you, too, Baby Brother - get your rest, drink plenty of fluids and let those miracle stem cells do their thing.
The next update will be after Skeet's visit with the neurologist on November 17 . . .
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