Those Cells- post #4

I awoke yesterday (Monday morning) with a smile on my face realizing that my journey was half over. Today was a cell infusion day but I will not allow myself to think about the procedure. I force myself to think about positive things and avoid the negative. I never went anywhere in life thinking about the negative and if you dwell on the positive, at least people will enjoy being around you. The most positive thing of the day is receiving those stem cells. There are basically two types of stem cells that I am receiving. One is CD-34 cells. These cells promote the flow of blood at a cellular level through the body. They even promote the generation of new vessel growth. Without life giving blood, cells and tissues become sick, mutate and even die. The next stem cells are the MSC cells. These cells repair damaged or injured cells and facilitates the immune system to not attack the body. So in laymen’s terms, these cells working together increases the live giving blood supply to all the cells in the body and provides first aid to damaged or dying cells. In addition, the immune system is calmed which allows it not to attack it’s self. The result is the body is given the opportunity to heal it’s self.
There are a variety of different conditions and illness that people come here to be treated for. Some of these are: MS, (many here with this illness), CP, spinal cord injuries, autism, and chronic fatigue syndrome I’m sure there are many other illnesses which people are being treated for with this therapy, but these are the ones we have encountered. I will be learning much more when I get to see the lab with my own eyes. We have a tour of the lab on Thursday. Most patients are receiving their own stem cells which are taken from their fat cells. I am interested in learning more about how they are engineering these cells into those two stem cells.
The doctors have been open and candid with me that any positive treatment result are none sustaining. Their experience treating other ALS patients has not produced any sustainable results. At best I can hope to slow or stop the progression of the disease, but only for about 90 days per treatment. To sustain myself for the next years would require four, two week trips back to Panama , not to mention the” not so fun treatments.”
So --- Why am I here?
The answer simply put is – to stall the deterioration in three primary areas in my body and maintaining hope that UT Southwestern may find a viable treatment. My doctors there are very encouraging about what the near future holds.
The three primary areas of deterioration I am currently facing are:
1. the complete loss of my legs. That would result in the need for around the clock care.
2. loosing the ability to swallow which would require the insertion of a feeding tube.(I would hate to get calories through a tube when I enjoy eating so much)
3. loosing the ability to speak. I currently feel like there is a ball in the back of my throat pressing against my vocal cords.
With the current speed of the progression of the disease, I am sure to loose each of these this year if I find nothing to slow it down. It was pretty easy decision to make.
So it is back to the positive thinking for the day and those life giving cells.
I am praying for God’s hand to be at work in the midst of these treatments.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Panama John