What a long day but we made it. This place is like a second home to us. There is just something so special and magical about being here. It's amazing the people that we have met along the way on this journey; the TSA woman in Pittsburgh that wrote my name down on a piece of scratch paper because she wants to pray for me, another man from Texas I met who was heading to see his parents because his Dad was sick. I told him my story while we were waiting for our flight. We had such a good conversation about stem cells and all the controversy in the US. He gave me his brother’s number in Panama in case of an emergency. He said he will take care of us if we need anything. The, as I was being escorted off the plane by two Panamanian guys that didn't speak a lick of English, the pilots and stewards clapped and cheered and chanted good luck as we got off the plane in Panama.
Sunday was a Great day with my kids. We sat by the pool most of the day. I felt really well so I attempted my first successful pool transfer. Grabbed the ladder held my chair and went right down with ease. What did I do before You Tube? You can learn a lot from it!!! I put my feet in the water. While the kids played in front of me. They both begged me to get into the water. I just told them one step at a time. I promised them by the end of the week I'll swim with them. That's a huge accomplishment for me getting to that poolside. My first time in Panama I was so sick and I couldn't of dreamed of getting in and out that chair. I spent all day and evening in that wheelchair. It was especially hard at night with the rough transfers from my chair to the bed. I had so much pain and had no strength plus I was really just beginning to learn my body. It always bothered me to watch my kids swim. When I could walk I would take them both one in each arm and just pull them all around the pool. I was their personal raft for so many years. I was always their jungle gym. I have so many pictures of us swimming together. I felt so free just sitting their splashing the boys. I didn't even care about the chair or my paralysis. I was just the old me for a brief time. The boys watched a clip in a movie where a man in a wheelchair wheeled right up to the pool and jumped in right off his chair into the water. The boys egged me on saying “we know you can do that Dad, just do it!!! “ I laughed and told them that I know i could but I didn’t need any more injuries right now!!! Christopher is turning into a little man. He has my heart. There has never been a situation that I have gotten into in my life that I didn't find a way out. Christopher is developing that trait. He begs me to get in that pool. He tells me, "Dad, trust me, I'll lift you out." What a great day it was. I felt good physically. Then I grabbed the pool ladder and my chair. First heave and bam right in my seat. My kids were so excited. I was too. We talked about it the whole way back to the apartment like it was the greatest thing that ever happened. They kept repeating it and repeating it over and over. I guess we all love to repeat things when something good happens.
We had dinner later that night with Jim Bregman. He's the owner of the apartment we rent. I really enjoyed our conversation. He studied Judo for 60 years and was the first American Medalist to compete in Judo at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. We had a great time with him and his girlfriend. They are the kindest, most good hearted people. He offered his place to me for my fourth treatment if needed.
Monday we drew all the blood for the stem cells without a hitch. I was so excited to see everybody at the clinic. They are my family away from home. Tuesday was the bone marrow extraction. I had to be at Punto Pacifica hospital at 7:30. Ever since I had my gallbladder out some days I get terrible pain in my stomach. Of course it had to be in full force while I'm getting prepped for the procedure. It just hurt so badly after I got my IV. I laid there waiting for my turn. I got sick like I wanted to throw up. The nurses who didn't know much English ran over to me. I kept saying "me siento mal!" I was pretty sure that meant I feel sick. I almost passed out. Lol. She kept waving an alcohol pad under my nose while I leaned over the bed aiming to hit the big red container. It passed after a few minutes. They gave me some medicine for nausea and I was ready to roll. The whole procedure from start to finish took about 3 hours. When I came out from the extraction I kept waking up and falling back asleep. I did it like 3 or 4 times. The last time they had this heater blowing hot air under my blankets. God it felt so good! I woke up the last time and I wanted to put my clothes on and leave but I was really comfortable. I laid there and thought about how many surgeries I had all year. I've been put under more this year than most people do their whole life! We spent the evening with Mellissa from the Stem Cell Clinic. We talked about my progress over dinner. She has seen hundreds of people with disabilities walk through their doors. She loves her job with a passion. We all are overly excited about the possible outcomes of this treatment. Hopefully this part of my story is going to get really exciting. I have had thirteen months of therapy and healing. I fight everyday to move and feel every inch of my body that doesn't work. The human body is mind boggling and every case is different. Tomorrow I will receive my first IV and Intrathecal injections. Tomorrow hope springs eternal.
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