Hopefully Pam will clean up my entry before its posted:
11-03 - Day 5 Post Liberation Treatment
04:00 – checked into the special care unit to get my intravenous chelation started early. They weren’t ready for me so after ablutions I returned at 05:00 for the 2 hour process (of which I slept 1.5 hours) then back to the room to prepare for our 08:00 departure.
08:00 – we bade Sanoviv and staff farewell as suprimo driver, Pedro ,chauffeured us to San Diego airport. I hummed Herb Alpert’s – Tijuana Taxi while Pedro took us on a downtown Tijuana tour.
08:45 to 09:15 arrived at, and bonus - cleared the busiest border crossing in the U.S. in 30 minutes (ya think its cuz I shaved off my cheezy goatee – if I had a haircut we might have been waved through).
10:00 the refreshing Westjet staff processed us for the security gauntlet. (I’ve been patted down more times on this trip than a street drug dealer – ya think it’s my appearance? – I’m getting a haircut!) First to be boarded and we’re up and away to Calgary with the way cool Westjet folks. I have more feeling and movement in my legs, feet, and toes, so enroute I could relieve the cramped seating situation by wriggling my toes just like an abled person. After a successful plane change we are Winnipeg bound on schedule.
21:40 last to deplane, a Westjet staffer wheels me to the baggage area to get my modified motorized super ‘chairiot’. When the elevator opens on the main floor we are greeted by a global TV videographer sent to document our arrival …. Ho-hum …. I hate it when the paparazzi does this. He’s videoing my every move (and I haven’t brushed my hair !!! …. my mother will be mortified if anyone sees this footage!). I ham it up and walk a bit while pushing our luggage cart. Daughter, Dorian, meets us in our van, and despite the long day I feel energy enough to climb into the driver’s seat (the paparazzi camera catching it all!); and drive home to Oakeybank via Transylconia to pick-up the blessed cat.
11-04 00:45 we are unloaded and abed safe and sound. Mission accomplished.
11-04 – Day 6 Post Liberation Treatment
06:45 what a glorious 180 degree directional change this is. Instead of dreading what part of me is not going to function as well today , I’m anticipating what improvements I’m going to experience - quite the change from living over 36 years under the cloud of my blessed MS diagnosis. I’m up and about attending to a full day’s activities including - exercising, a heartwarming visit with my inspirational 92 year old mother in the afternoon, attending church choir practice (I think my ‘ear’ is off more than usual) till a 22:00 return home …. all with no nap(s). Even the 2 your time difference ‘jet lag’ hasn’t beaten me down. We are elated with my much improved energy level.
2010-11-05 Day 7 Post Liberation Treatment
08:00 get ready for the ‘after video’ at kin-place with Pam and my bestest buddy Gary Tucker. We try to reenact the ‘before video’ with little success as I get frustrated with my inability to walk with much, if any, improvement. This session is followed by a visit with my general practitioner, (g.p.’s g.p.), oakbank renown Dr. Jeff Wiebe, who has been so supportive. We are blessed with the treatment and guidance he has provided me over the years since I ‘hand picked’ him to be my m.d. (just another tale from the naked city for another time).
10:30 I reported on my treatment response to Dr. J (I call him this re: another of my heroes – former NBA superstar Julius Erving) and he assured us that my legs will require lots of rehab after years of using a wheelchair. Surprise, surprise, ‘the pamatolla’ – has a scheduled exercise/diet regime at the ready.
23:55 abed after being out and about town most of the day, visiting with friends and family (daughter Joey from Brandon, daughter Andrea and Keith from Winnipeg). We had to pass on kin-place supper and I blew-off the televised bomber game (apologies to cook Vivian and Una -my b.b.f.f. (bestest bomber fan friend). Another long active day with no nap(s) due to my much improved energy level! Hallalu! Praise be!
Summary of Improvements to Date after Procedure
· Decreased numbness in 3 fingers of right hand
· Able to raise toes up higher, and raise right leg up a little
· Legs feel ‘different’, more feeling
o Could feel massage on lower legs and feet, more so than before treatment
o Could feel the wind on feet
o Can feel infected toe throbbing
· Increased circulation
o Raised veins on legs visible now
o Socks don’t leave ‘dents’ in legs
o Legs and feet are less purple and just a little mottled
o Legs and feet warmer
· Less fatigue, lots of energy
· Possibly hearing less sensitive
· Eyes less sensitive to light
· More clear headed
· Able to sleep in different positions instead of only on back
FYI – we plan bi-weekly or monthly postings on the improvements. Mother may reclaim me as one her own, since Numero Uno hair care professional, daughter, Andrea, cut my hair last evening. Coincidently a global TV reporter has threatened to do a story on our journey. We’ll see if it goes anywhere. Quite likely it will get bumped by a late breaking headline like ‘man bites dog’!
Luego,
el Gordo y Pamelita
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