As you've probably noticed, I tend to regurgitate dates here, and today is actually one to remember. Way back on 11 April 2008, a giant pile of doctors off in a faraway land routed out my nasal cavities, hacked my neck open, and traded some tissue.
That's right: three years ago, I had a stem cell transplant.
Crazy! Since then, it's been a wild ride. I'm obviously not skipping down the sidewalk and typing 100 wpm again yet, but my life is drastically improved compared to the pre-surgery days. Remember, my spinal cord injury is C4-C5 level. I "should" barely be able to move my arms. Now I have at least minimal voluntary muscle control down to the abdominal/gluteal level. I haven't used the power chair since 2009. I used to have only enough lung power and breath control to whistle for about three seconds; now I can consistently hit and sustain that elusive low C. So much dreamlike stuff is unbelievably happening.
So, yes, progress is agonizingly slow. Feeling "lucky to be alive" is often a stretch. However, the progress seems to be unstoppable. Weekly, even daily, new and weird advancements come out of nowhere. Relative to how I was... Wow.
Woohoo.
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I don't think I've ever seen you skip down a sidewalk.
ReplyDeletejohn!
ReplyDeletei really appreciate when you bring up the dates of things. i am shit for remembering dates...and most other things, too.
i remember when you went to portugal, though!
your progress is a juggernaut of awesome.
end of non sequiturs.
kyle.
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ReplyDeleteHi John, please thank your mom for her letter yeasterday. And many heartfelt wishes for continued daily victories for you. You rock like buckethead jams, fiercely. :), hope that was the compliment I meant it to be!
ReplyDelete