Photos from Athens

A little late, but here are some photos from our Athens trip. They are out of order, but from top to bottom here it goes, Top- Cheryl and Janice on the beach in Athens, three days post stem cells. Next is Samira from CTCI holding the two vials of stem cells, just prior to the infusion. The third photo is Janice post infusion. She was feeling great at this time, but that was soon to change. Next, Cheryl and I on our tour of the Acropolis with the Parthenon in the background. The last photo is Cheryl and Janice in front of the Eiffel tower. We had a 12 hour layover in Paris on our way to Greece and took full advantage of our time there.

Two Months Old

Today the stem cells are two months old. So what's new? Nothing that we can tell. We are still optimistic that there will be change but. . .

We have been exploring other options. I have been seriously looking at diet, and supplements. It is looking more like a change in diet is necessary to eliminate the problematic foods that mimic myelin. It's more than I can write about, and I am not sure I understand it all yet, but am working on it. Janice is extremely good about eating a healthy diet. Unfortunately the diet that is needed (or so it seems) for MS, eliminates a lot of good foods. It is basically gluten, dairy and legume free. Janice is not so sure at this point that this is going to be possible and I will support her 100% in her decision.

I found a website, a MS Charity that was founded by a research scientist, Ashtom Embry Ph.d. His son was diagnosed with MS in 1995 and at that time, he decided to research the likely factors which cause MS.

This charity is different from other MS charities, he says -"Our charity is not about coping with the diagnosis of MS – it’s about defying it, slowing or halting its progression, and preventing it in the first place." -That's what I'm talking about!

The link for this charity site Direct MS is: -http://www.direct-ms.org/index.html

Janice had the MRV done Wednesday. We will find out the results on our next follow up appointment in April.

Melinda

Happy Anniversary?

March 7, 2010, It has been one year since the diagnosis. Janice and I talked about this the other day, and she said, "What am I supposed to do, celebrate?"

This past year has taken us on quite the journey. We have been hospitalized three times, taken daily injections, then three times a week injections, then moved on to monthly infusions. We have had numerous MRIs, CT scans, Lumbar punctures, blood tests, vision tests, traveled to San Francisco several times, traveled to Tel Aviv Israel for bone marrow extraction and then to Athens Greece for MSC's infusion. We have had some great doctors and some not so great. Our years' experience has been quite the adventure.

So today we should celebrate. . . the fact that the disease has not progressed any further since last July, the fact that we do have some great docs to care for us, that we can live with this and move on in life and that our God is Great.

Condition Update- No change.

Melinda

MRV Canceled

Well today's MRV was canceled due to poor coordination between the doctors office and Nevada Imaging. (That is putting it nicely!) We are rescheduled for March 10. We are still patiently waiting for the stem cells to do their thing. No changes yet.

Melinda