DAY 20 - WEDNESDAY

February 11, 2009: Hi Everyone: This is just to let you know that everything is progressing better than as expected. First, our flight back home on Monday, 2/9 was great. We landed one half hour earlier and Ernie (Jill's father) and Aunt Doris were waiting for us by the carousel. We had the first row in the plane and were assisted from boarding to departing, and the attendant stayed with Jill in the wheelchair until she got into the car at the curb. This was a first. Usually, they wheel you to get your luggage and then take the wheel chair and leave you there. We flew home Jet Blue because it was a lot less for a one way ticket and we couldn't book round trip when we left because of the uncertainty of the departure date.
We had to get up early to leave and although Jill was a little tired from the flight, she was better than I had expected. She watched the TV on the plane and actually stayed up during the flight. On the way down Jill slept for almost an hour and was cold. She was a little steadier than before the SCT (stem cell transplant).
Don't forget, Jill has the RSV virus and it knocks you out. Her stomach was hurting her because of the constant coughing caused by this virus. You feel as though someone has punched you in the stomach. Her coughing has lessened almost entirely, and her feeling of exhaustion is much less. She is on no meds for the MS except the anxiety medicine and the Provigil, which she hasn't taken since the transplant. This is wonderful. Jill always hated taking medications and would have preferred to treat the disease holistically, which she did for the first 3 1/2 years. Unfortunately the turn the MS took didn't allow this treatment to exist anymore.
Jill had an appointment to see her PCP (Dr G Stivala), yesterday (2/10) at 12 pm. She was the last appointment so that she would not be in contact with other sick patients. Her mask and gloves were on and Dr Stivala was so happy to see her. He has been a constant support for Jill during this time. He was instrumental in getting her to see Dr Richard Burt. Sue, his office manager and Dr Burt's office manager, Kim, did all the paper work necessary for the first evaluation. It took over three months for this to happen.
He made all the arrangements for the weekly blood draws she will have to have during this critical time home. Dr. Stivala spoke to a supervisor so everything would go smoothly and the results will be sent to him and Dr Burt as soon as they are in. Jill will also be faxed the results. I will keep everyone informed as the results are gathered so you can follow along.
Our Journey Begins back home on the Road To Health!
Love to All,
Doreen

PS: Yesterday morning my son Frank called and told us to watch channel 2 News because a story about MS and Stem Cells was going to air. We waited for it to come on and this 22 year old explained how he was helped by a Stem Cell Transplant at Northwestern Medical Hospital in Chicago by Dr Richard Burt in 2006. He is symptom-free and feels as though he doesn't have the MS anymore. Technically, he still does, but his body doesn't know it. He was lifting weights in a gym and is not facing being in a wheel chair anymore. God Bless Him and everyone else. The study has opened up to many more MS patients. Now we have to spread the good news! Here is the link to this story (copy & paste in your browser): http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/10/earlyshow/health/main4789551.shtml