These emails start at most recent watch here for Updates

Day1-2 Tuesday & Wednesday February 28^th March 1st

We departed Orlando, Florida at 7:00am on Delta Airlines. The flight was good and everyone was nice. We landed in Los Angeles California at 9:30 am PST. We had some trouble with China Eastern when we tried to check my power chair into baggage. After sorting that out, we boarded the plane (China Eastern) bound for Shanghai, China at 1:00pm PST. The flight was long but good and the service was excellent. They served two dinners and a snack, the food was good. When we reached Shanghai, China there was an airport representative who was very helpful, if it wasn’t for him we would still be lost in the Shanghai airport. We flew out of Shanghai around 9:30 pm their time and landed in Shen Zhen, China around 11:30pm their time. When we went to get off the plane there wasn’t an isle chair (wheel chair) to get me off the plane so two very strong men carried me all the way to the planes door where they put me into my manual wheel chair. We met Grace (one of Jon’s helpers) who is extremely nice and helpful. We went down to customs to get my power wheel chair and went to the van; it took four men to lift my 320lbs power chair into the back of the van. Grace brought us to an apartment to stay until Friday because the hospital was full. The apartment was very nice and comfortable except for the bed it was very very hard. We went to sleep around 4am after a bathroom adventure. The door was not wide enough to fit my wheel chair into.

Day 3 Thursday March 2^nd

Around 1pm, Grace came over with some food from McDonalds. Then we went to the bank to exchange US dollars for RMBs. The exchange rate is almost one US dollar to eight RMBs. Then we went to the seven eleven for some coke and snacks. After that, we walked around the shops and went to get some calling cards. The people around here are very interested in my power wheel chair and everyone stared at me. We went back to the apartment to rest because we had to be at the hospital at 8am the next morning.

Day 4 Friday March 3^rd

Jon met us at the apartment just before 8am to take us to the Nan Shan hospital. Since it is a big pain to put my power chair into the car we decided to walk and Jon took all of the luggage in a taxi. We got to the hospital and went to the 19^th floor. They put us in a room that has two hospital beds, a bathroom, a TV, and DVD player. My first injection was scheduled for 4pm Friday afternoon. I had a physical exam and we went to eat lunch. The food down in the café is very good. After lunch, we came back to the room. The stem cell injections came in a little early so I prepared to have the injection. The doctor came in and had me get on my side on the bed with my head tucked down and my knees up to my chest kind of like the fetal position. Since I am over weight and the doctor is use to working on skinny people, she had some trouble getting the needle into the right spot in my spine. After a few tries she called an anesthesiologist and she got the needle in on the first try. The doctor injected the stem cells and I was to lay flat on my back for four to six hours. I slept for five hours, got up, and eat pizza from Poppa Johns. Since we are still not use to the time change and we just got up from a long nap we were wide wake and didn’t go to bed until three in the morning.

Day 5 Saturday March 4^th

We got up around 7am and hung out in the hospital room until they came and got me for some x-rays. We went down to the café to eat and then I went to physical therapy. They put me on a table, strapped me down, and stood me up. Then the doctor did an evaluation on my strengths and movements. After that, they did some acupuncture to help improve my circulation. Later that evening we went to a place called sea world. Sea world is a place with a lot of shops and restaurants with American food. We ate at a Mexican place called Amigos. The food was very good. Sunny (one of Jon’s helpers) brought us back to the hospital and we went to bed.

Day 6 Sunday March 5^th

We got up around 7am again, ate some breakfast and I went down for physical therapy again. They did the same things as yesterday. I haven’t noticed any improvements yet but it is still early. After therapy, we went to lunch with Grace in the café down stairs and then back to the room. I had therapy again at 3pm and they did some electronic stimulation. We came back to the room and hung out for a little while. Jenni and I went down to the cafe by our selves for dinner. It is very smoggy today so I have had a headache for most of the day. We went back to the room and went to bed early.

Day 7 Monday March 6^th

We got up around 6am. Sonny took Jenni to the bank, the USA store and to Wal-Mart Super center. The USA store is like a little convenience store with mainly stuff from America like raviolis, Dr Pepper, and heresy bars. The Wal-Mart super center is kind of like the one at home with a few exceptions like it is two stories with an escalator, but it is not a normal escalator. It is flat and you a can put your cart on it. It also has a food department with some very interesting food, Jenni wasn’t sure what most of them were but they looked really gross. Jenni got two air mattresses ( because the beds are really hard), some food, a pump to blow the air mattresses up, 2 pairs of boxer shorts and a toy for our daughter Kaitlyn and she only spent 360 rmbs which is 45 US dollars. When she got back, we went to lunch in the café and then Grace took us to a place called the Lou hu shopping center (train station). It is five floors. It is a cross between a flea market and a mall. They sell a lot of knock off items like fake Rolexes and Gucci handbags. It is easy to get a bargain because everyone is selling the same things and they all want you to buy their items. I got a fake Rolex for 220 rmbs, which is 27.50 US dollars. I also got a four-gig mp4 player for 260 rmbs, which is 32.50 US dollars. While we were looking at some handbags, we noticed that all the merchants were grabbing their items and running for the stairs. Grace told us to just get out of their way and let them run by. She told us that they were running because the police were coming and they are not suppose to be selling knock off stuff, if they get caught selling it the police will take it away and fine them. To get to the train station we had to take a taxi, this was my first taxi ride since I’ve been here. What a ride it was. They have turn signals and side mirrors on their cars but I don’t think they use them. The drive like maniacs, they will change lanes without looking, they don’t care if there is someone there or not. There are people walking in the street and riding bikes and the cars just go around them without slowing down. Since we have been here, I have heard more people blowing their horns then I have in my life. It is crazy. I just put my head down so I couldn’t see. After that horrific ride, we glad to be back at the hospital. We went to the café for dinner and then went to bed. It was a very long day.

Day 8 Tuesday March 7^th

We got up about 7:15am because the cleaning lady likes to come in, empty the trash, and mop the floor. They mop the floors 3-5 times a day we went down to the café for breakfast. Then we went to therapy again. I did the standing table, electrical stimulation and acupuncture. Then we went to lunch in the café. I went to therapy again at 2pm and basically did the same things, and then we went back down to the café for dinner and after dinner we went back to the room and just hung out with Gabi and his mom. Gabi is from Romania. He is also a c5/c6 incomplete spinal cord injury like me.

Day 9 Wednesday March 8^th

The cleaning lady woke us up at a little after 7am. We went to the café for breakfast, I had to eat a big breakfast because my injection was scheduled for 3pm and I couldn't eat 6 hours before. After breakfast, I went to therapy again and then back to the room. At about 3:30pm the nurse took me to the operating room to get my stem cell injection because they had problems with my first injection. It went pretty quick this time, no problems. They brought me back to my room and I slept off and on flat on my back for 5 hours. Then we ordered pizza again from poppa johns and watched a movie. Then we went back to bed.

Day 10 Thursday March 9^th

We woke up around 7am and had pretty much the same morning routine, breakfast, therapy and then lunch. Nothing to exciting, Jon took us to a Chinese seafood restaurant. The restaurant had a bunch of fish tanks out side with all kinds of fish, crabs, lobsters, and shellfish in them. The people think that if it is cleaned and frozen then it may not be fresh but since it is still swimming then it is fresh. You can’t get any fresher then that. Kelvin (the man that runs the café in the hospital) went with us. He ordered all the food. We had shrimp (not cleaned with the shell, head and tail still on them) some kind of mussels, some tofu stuff which I tried but I didn’t like it, a whole fish head and all, some crabs and some cucumbers in vinegar which was good. We got all that food for like 24 US dollars. After dinner, we went to a liquor store to get some cigarettes which cost us 100rmbs (12.50 US dollars). Then we went to a place called the Sign bar and had a few drinks and then we went back to the hospital and went to bed.

Day 11 Friday March 10^th

It was a quiet morning, we skipped breakfast (I wasn’t very hungry) then I went to therapy and then for lunch we went to KFC by ourselves, Jenni did the best she could ordering the food. No one could speak English and she just pointed to a picture but they still didn’t really understand what she wanted, but she did come out with some food not very much but it was good. Then I went back to therapy again. Later that evening we wanted KFC again but this time we took Grace so she could order. They got it right that time. Then we came back to the room, ate, and watched some of the shows that I downloaded. Then I helped Gabi put some pictures on a disc and then we went to bed.

Day 12 Saturday March 11^th

It was the same morning routine except Jon hired a new cleaning lady so we didn’t get woke up by some one mopping and emptying the trash. For lunch Jon, Kelvin, Jenni sonny and I went to another Chinese restaurant. The food was really good; nothing too gross or at least we didn’t order anything gross. For all five of us to eat was only about 25 US dollars, very cheap. Then I went back to therapy, this time they did another evaluation. There was no significant changes but it is still early it will take time to rebuild the muscles that I have lost in the last 3 ½ years. Then we came back to the room ate some pizza and relaxed.

Day 13 Sunday March 12^th

It was the same morning routine woke up and went down for breakfast. After breakfast, we went shopping with Sonny. First, we went to the Rainbow market “a five story store with a food market on 1 floor the rest was like a department store. We bought a few snacks from the food market, which needed refrigerated so we brought those back to the room. After that, we went to McDonalds for lunch, then to the electronics market. At the electronics market we bought a USB cable for our camera “10 RMB” = $1.25 I know that was expensive ha-ha. It is pretty hot today compared to previous days. We then returned to the room they gave me my daily IV of nerve growth hormones and we fell asleep watching a movie. We woke up and went down for dinner in the café, then returned to the room and went to sleep.

Day 14 Monday March 13^th

Today we did the same woke up and went down for breakfast. After breakfast, we went down for therapy. Today I stood in a different standing machine for thirty minutes. , after that acupuncture this time they hooked up an electrical stimulation machine wires to the acupuncture needles. After therapy, we went back to the café for lunch. Then w went back to the room where I received my daily IV , while II did that Jenni went and had a set of nails put on and had her hair washed, dried and got a head massage. Total cost was 125 RMB = $15.63. After she returned, Jenni and Grace went and picked up some KFC for dinner. After dinner, we watched some TV, and then went to sleep.

Day 15 Tuesday March 14^th

Today we didn’t to too much just the normal routine of breakfast, therapy, lunch, therapy, dinner and then we went to bed. It was a nice quiet day.

Day 16 Wednesday March 15^th

Today we got up and went down to the café for breakfast. We met the new patient that came in late last night. His name is Jonathan. He is from Boston. His mother Edith, his Father Robert, and his sister Alanna came with him. He has been injured for ten years after nearly drowning at age four. After breakfast we went to the forth floor for therapy. After therapy, we went out for lunch at a really good Chinese restaurant (Fu Yung Lou) with Kelvin. He ordered all the food which was good because no one spoke any English. They do have a menu with pictures but it is easier to take someone that can speak the language. I have been learning some words to be somewhat polite but it is a little difficult to get the right pronunciation down. After lunch, we went back to the hospital for therapy again. During therapy, I stood at the standing table for about thirty minutes, and then I had zhen jiu, which is Chinese for acupuncture. After therapy, we went down to the café for dinner and to hang out and talk with Kelvin and Picasso (the cook for the hospital café). After dinner we went back to the room and watched Chinese TV (which is very funny to watch because there are some very weird shows on), then we went to bed.

Day 17 Thursday March 16^th

Today we went down to the café for breakfast again and then to therapy. Today I stood in the parallel bars for the fist time in a year. With Dr Li’s help, I stood about seven times, two to five minutes each time. This is an improvement since the stem cell injections because when I would stand in therapy at home and my legs would tire out very quickly and I wouldn’t be able to stand as many times as I did today. After standing, they did the acupuncture on my legs and arm using the electrical stimulation again. We went to the café again for lunch and then back to therapy for more e-stem and some mat exercises. After dinner, we hung out with Gabi. Gabi told us about the improvements that he has gone since the stem cell injections. He said that he feels stronger and he has had an improvement in this feeling though his body. He also has more movement in his arms. I know that doesn’t seem like much but it is a lot to someone who has been paralyzed for ten years. We stayed and talk to him until around 10pm and then we went to bed.

Day 18 Friday March 17^th

Today we got up late so we didn’t have time for breakfast; we just went straight to therapy. After therapy Gabi, his mom, Jessica, Jenni, and I all went to McDonalds for lunch. We also went to the electronics market while we were out. We had to be back to the hospital by 3pm today because Gabi and I are getting another stem cell injection. I decide to get the stem cells though an IV today. I wanted to see if it would decrease my muscle spasms. So since I got the iv I didn’t have to lay in bed for 6 hour like I did when I had the injection in to my spinal fluid. After my IV was done me, Jenni and Grace went to KFC to get dinner for Gabi and his mom, Henry and Jackie and ourselves. Henry is there with his wife Jackie who had a stroke seven years ago. They are also from Florida and they have been in China doing the stem cell injections for about six weeks. After dinner, we went to bed.

Day 19 Saturday March 18^th

Today was a good day. We got up, went to breakfast, and then up to therapy. Today when I stood in the parallel bars, I got up on my own, with little or no muscle spasms. This is the first time in 3 ½ years that I could do that. My legs felt very strong today. After standing I had acupuncture again, it seems to be helping with my circulation. For lunch we went to a place call the California steak house, it is in an area called sea world. Unfortunately, there is no Shamu or dolphins but there are many western restaurants like Subway and McDonalds. After dinner, we went to the USA store and Jenni got some Dr Pepper. For 36 cans of soda it was $ 208 rmbs that is $ 26 US dollars, it was very expensive but it was imported from the US because there usually is not any Dr Pepper in China. We took another terrifying trip in a taxi back to the hospital. We didn’t do too much after that. Riding in the taxi was very thematic we needed to rest.

Day 20 Sunday March 19th

Today was another very quite day. It was Sunday so there was no therapy so we just laid around in the room and watched movies. At about 10pm Jenni decided she wanted some ice cream so we walked up to the KFC and got some ice cream cones then we walked around the block back to the hospital and then went to bed.

Day 21 Monday March 20^th

Today was a pretty normal day. It was the same routine in the morning. For lunch, Grace went with us to a dim sun restaurant. Grace is good to go eat with because she lived in Toronto, Canada for fifteen years so she knows what western people like and don’t like to eat. Then we went to a liquor store with Kelvin to get some cigarettes. Kelvin knows the owner of the store so we got two cartons of cigarettes for $175 rmbs that is about 22 US dollars. Then we sat and drank tea and smoked cigarettes with Kelvin and the storeowner. When we got back to the hospital we just hung out with Gabi for most of the evening because we are flying to Qingdao in the morning and we are not sure when we will be coming back to Shenzhen.

Day 22 Tuesday March 21^st

Today was a very hectic day. We were leaving for Qingdao because The Dr’s here in Shenzhen don’t really want to do the surgical injection on me, and I want it done. Qingdao is where I am having surgery where they will cut in to the back of my neck and inject the stem cells directly in to the injury site. So we got up early so we could eat breakfast and pack before 12pm. Our flight left at 2:20pm so before we could go to the airport, I had to take my power chair over to the apartment down to road from the hospital because it wouldn’t make it into Jon’s apartment in Qingdao. So Grace walked me to the apartment and Jenni and Sonny took a taxi to the apartment with the luggage to meet us. Then Sonny took us to the airport. We went to the information station and waited for an airport representative to take us to the plane. When we got to the plane some men carried me to my seat which was in first class because it was to hard to get me in to a coach seat this time Jenni got to sit next to me in first class. The flight was about two and a half hours long. When we got to Qingdao Jon was waiting for us. We first went to his apartment to drop off all of our things and for Jenni to put some jeans on because I forgot to tell her that Jon said to dress warm, she was wearing shorts and it was about 50 degrees. I just sat in the car. Then we went to a fancy hotel to have dinner. We were in our own little room. We were there with Jon and his wife Rose, Dr Chen (the top spinal surgeon in China), the head nurse for the hospital that I will be staying at, and Dr Leo (the top acupuncture doctor in this area). During dinner, we discussed the surgery with Dr Chen. He sounds like he is a very good doctor. After dinner, we went back to Jon’s apartment. Jon’s apartment is a bit of a pain to get in to. He lives on the sixth floor and to get to the elevator I had to be carried up nine steps. Rose called two guards to help so it was that hard. Jon and Rose’s apartment is very nice. It is very open and overlooks the ocean. We went to bed a little early because tomorrow is going to be a long day.

Day 23 Wednesday March 22^nd

We got up around 8am, got dressed and left to go look at some places Jon has in mind for patients to stay after they are have the surgery done. First, we went to a nice hotel but it will take a lot of modifications to get it ready for people in wheelchairs. The bathroom doors need to be widened and it needed a ramp to go the hotel restaurant. Then we went to an even nicer hotel. It didn’t need quit as much work just some off set hinges on the bathroom doors. After we left the second place, we went to a little Chinese restaurant for lunch. Rose ordered a lot of weird stuff. The weirdest has to be the silk worms, I tried one and I didn’t like it. It is something that I will never try again, most of the other food was good. We left there and went to the Haici Medical Hospital where I will be having my surgery. We met Dr Chen on the first floor at his office. He took us up to the VIP ward on the sixth floor. The room was big. Then he took us to operating room, it looked very clean. Dr Chen said my surgery was scheduled for Saturday at 1pm. We left the hospital, went back to Jon’s apartment, and ordered pizza for dinner. We hung out with Jon and Rose and talked for a while then we went to bed.

Day 24 Thursday March 23^rd

Today we got up around 8am and got dressed. Then Jon took us to see an international school. I stayed in the car while Jenni and Jon went a looked around. Jenni said it was a nice school her favorite part was that there was only eight to ten kids per class. The school costs about $ 4500 US dollars, which is good for a private school. When we left the school, we went drove to a place called Laoshan. I think it was some kind of national park, I don’t know, all I know is that it was beautiful with the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other side. As we drove further we came to a bunch of little shops, so Jenni and Jessie (Jon's assistant) went in to a few of the shops. She bought some stones with Chinese writing on them. They were very cheap. When we left there, we went to a place called Jusco. It is a shopping mall. We went to the McDonalds and had lunch. Rose met us there. After lunch, we went to Starbucks and had some coffee. Then we went back to Jon’s apartment. Later that evening we went to a hot pot place for dinner. They bring out a bunch of raw foods and you cook them in your own personal pot of broth. It was good. After dinner, we went and had a foot massage. It was very relaxing and it is very cheap. Then we went back to Jon’s apartment and went to bed.

Day 25 Friday March 24^th

Today we got up early because I had to have blood work done before the surgery. We went to the hospital, I had an examination and they took my blood. Then we went back to Jon’s apartment. While we were sit there watching TV I noticed that I could push myself around backwards in my manual chair with my legs. I think this is a big improvement. My legs felt very strong today. I have also noticed that I could feel that the tile was cold. Dr Chen called and said that the stem cells won’t be in until Monday, so my surgery was rescheduled for Monday at 2pm. He said that I needed to be at the hospital by 10am to get ready. We stayed at the apartment until around 6pm. Then we went to dinner with one of Roses friends. Her name was Sue and she spoke English very well. After dinner, we went back to Jon’s apartment, watched a movie, and then went to bed.

Day 26 Saturday March 25^th

Today we stayed in the apartment until dinnertime. For dinner, we went to a fancy hotel to meet some of Jon and Rose’s friends. One of Jon’s friends was Allen, he is from Scotland, and he lived in Richmond, Virginia for a few years. We talked about NASCAR for a while. His accent reminds me of grounds keeper Willie on the Simpson’s. After dinner, we went back to Jon’s apartment and had a nice quite evening. We watched a movie and went to bed.

Day27 Sunday March 26^th

Today was a quite day. I wanted to rest before my surgery tomorrow. We stayed in the apartment all day and watched TV. We went to bed early.

Day 28 Monday March 27^th

We got up early so Jenni could pack a few things to take to the hospital. We ate breakfast and went to the hospital. When we got to the hospital, they put me in bed and did another examination. Then the nurse gave me an IV of antibiotics. I just laid in bed until it was time for my operation. At about 1:30pm they had me move to another bed and they took me to the operating room. The surgery took about three hours and Dr Chen said it went very smoothly. When I got back to my room I was in a lot of pain and what ever they were giving me, it wasn’t working. The pain just got worse. Then they gave me some morphine and that helped a little. I was finally able to fall asleep for a little while.

Day 29 Tuesday March 28^th

Today when I woke up the pain wasn’t as bad. The nurses gave me a lot of different IVs, mostly antibiotics. I stayed in bed all day today. Dr Chen said that I needed to stay in bed for 2 or 3 days, he also said that when he cut my neck open he could see where the stem cells had attached them selves to my spinal cord and started growing. That is a very good thing. Some time around noon, they moved me into a hospital bed because I couldn’t sit up on my own without my neck hurting. A little while later Dr Chen let me sit up for about an hour. Then we ate dinner, watched a movie, and went to sleep.

Day 30 Wednesday March 29^th

Today was better because the pain wasn’t as bad. It only hurt when I had a muscle spasm or put stain on my neck. I was able to sit up again, which was good because it is really hard to eat or drink lying down. At 1:30pm, Dr Leo came in and did acupuncture with electrical stimulation. I slept off and on all day then we ate dinner and went to sleep.

Day 31 Thursday March 30^th

Today I’m doing a little better. I Got out of bed and in my manual chair. I only lasted about an hour before I had to lay back down. I had acupuncture today again. The rest of the time I rested.

Day 32 Friday March 31^st

Today is even better. Last night I noticed I could actually feel cold again on my lower back down to my knees on my back side. I’m so excited. I haven’t felt cold there in over 3 years. I had acupuncture again today, and then got in my chair again this time I stayed up for 3 hours. Then we ordered dinner. After dinner we went to sleep.

Day 33 Saturday April 1^st

Today was pretty much the same as yesterday, except today I went outside and set by the fountain. For dinner we went back to the hot pot place with Dr. Chen and a few of his staff. They ordered these real big shrimp, surprise they brought them out alive. Jenni grabbed one and went to put it in her pot, it started flipping. It scared Jen she jumped and everyone laughed. Dinner was very good. After dinner we went back to the hospital and went to sleep.

Day 34 Sunday April 2^nd

Today was a rest day. I did spend most of the day in my wheelchair instead of bed. I feel a little better every day. We just hung around the hospital. We did go outside and sat by the fountain for awhile, then ordered some Chinese food for dinner. We watched some dvds an then went to sleep.

Day 35 Monday April 3^rd

Today I was supposed to have another injection, but something happened they didn’t get the cells ready in time. We pretty much did the same thing as yesterday except we went to sleep early, because we have to get up early. We are leaving here tomorrow.

Day 36 Tuesday April 4^th

Today we got up early so Jenni could pack up our stuff. The Dr. came in and took out my stitches and released me to go. Rose came and picked us up, and we went to Mcdonalds for lunch. We did a little shopping and then went back to Jon’s apartment to pack up everything, so we can catch a 4pm flight back to Shenzhen. The flight was about three hours. When we got back to Shenzhen we were surprised to see Sunny and Kelvin there to pick us up. We were expecting Grace. Sunny and Kelvin took Jenni and I to the apartment and helped us with our luggage. Then we headed over to the hospital. I just drove my power chair down the road. Everyone was staring at me. When we got to the hospital we went to the cafe to get something to eat. Gabi and his mom were waiting for us there. We sat and talked to Gabi and Kelvin. And then we headed back to the apartment for the night. We slept in the living room because the bed was too hard.

Day 37 Wednesday April 5th

Today we just went around and visited everyone. We really didn't do too much because I was still having some pain in my neck. I haven't really notice any more improvements but I know it is going to take time to heal. When I came over here I wasn't expecting any miracles but I can just hope for the best. I was supposed to have an injection today but there were problems with the stem cells. The doctor didn't want to take any chances so they rescheduled the injection for Friday. I saw Dr. Yong today, and after all the flying around to Qingdao he saw my improvements and said " You could have done the surgery Here." a little too late. O'well I opened the door for everyone else who decide to make the journey.

Day 38 Thursday April 6th

       Today we did a little shopping. We had to go buy another suit case to take all the stuff we bought home. I was still having a little bit of pain in my neck so I didn’t do any therapy today. We went over to a store called Carrefour. It was kind of like a Wal-Mart super center. We bought some chocolates for the people in the café. Then Kelvin took us to his friend’s tea shop again to get some tea and cigarettes. I wanted to get some more tea sets but even though we bought a new suit case we still didn’t have any more room to pack any tea sets. We sat and drank some tea with Kelvin and his friend and then headed back to the hospital. We just hung out at the hospital for a while and then headed back to the apartment for the night.

Day 39 Friday April 7th

      Today I was supposed to get my injection at 4:00. I chose to do an IV injection because the doctor recommended it because I was flying home on Sunday and they want to make sure there were no complications like headache or fever. So we just hung out at the hospital with Gabi until 4:00pm but then I was told that it would be delayed. The stem cells would be there until around 9:00pm. So we waited until 9pm and the stem cell finally made it. After my IV injection we went down to the café because I had ordered a cake for Jenni and Kelvin's birthday. Their birthdays weren't until the 16th and 17th of April but we are leaving on Sunday and we wouldn’t here for there birthdays. Kelvin made up a bunch of snacks and every one from the café stayed after work to have a little party. Gabi and his mom came down too. The party was really fun and the cake had a pineapple center and it was fresh pineapple not canned. We had some beer and wine and Jenni drank too much. We left about midnight and we went back to the apartment.

Day 40 Saturday April 8

When we got up this morning, Jenni went around and video taped the apartment and outside the apartment. Then she did some laundry. There wasn’t a dryer so she had to hang the cloths up out side to dry. Then we got ready and went to the hospital. When we got to the hospital, we went to the fourth floor to see Gabi and to say good bye to the physical therapy doctors. For lunch we took Sunny, Grace and Jessica to a Korean bar-b-q at sea world. The food there was very good, I like every thing that was ordered. The waitress cooks the meat on a burner right in front of you. After lunch we went to a shop with a lot of traditional Chinese items like painted eggs and figurines. Then we took a taxi and drop Jessica off at the hospital and grace and sunny took us to another place for shopping. I can’t remember what it was called, I just remember that it took a long time to get there. When we finally got there we went to the side of the building where there was a ramp for me to get in. The place was four or five stories and it had a bunch of little shops inside selling all kinds of home décor items, like pictures, Chinese fans and silk flowers. I would have to say that this was one of best places we went shopping at. We got most of the souvenirs from there. When I come back to china I will defiantly go there again. When we got done shopping we took a taxi back to the hospital. On the way back to the hospital we stop and got a pizza from pizza hut so that we could have dinner with Gabi and his mom. When we finished eating we went down to the café to tell everyone good bye. Then Gabi, his mom and Kelvin walked us out side. It was very hard to say good bye to all the people that we became very good friends with over the five weeks we spent here. We will really miss everyone. We went back to the apartment so Jenni could finish packing.

Day 41 & 42 Sunday/Monday April 9th-10th

I knew it was going to be a very long day. We got up around 4:30am. Jenni needed to finish packing before Sunny and Kelvin got there with the van at 6am. Our flight was scheduled to leave just before 9am. When we got to the airport we went over to check in. Then we went and waited by customs until they opened at 8am. Customs x-rayed our bags and then they lifted my power wheel chair on to the scale to weigh it. It weighed 186 kilograms. The employees at china eastern said that I might have to pay a fee for the wheelchair for the flight home in Shanghai. We said good bye to Sunny and Kelvin and went to the plane. When we got to the plane there wasn't an isle chair so the airplane security carried me to my seat. The flight was good. When we got to Shanghai a china eastern representative came and took us over to the china eastern offices where they told us that they were going to charge us to take my power wheel chair on the plane. They said that we had to pay 16 bags over because of the weight of my wheelchair. Sixteen bags over was almost 2000 US dollars. After about 30 minutes of us telling them that we didn’t pay to get the chair to china and that we shouldn’t have to pay to get it home they finally said that they would only charge for two bags over instead of sixteen. It still ended up costing us 240 US dollars but that was better then 2000 dollars. After we settled that problem the representative took us though the security and to the plane. On the way to the plane Jenni noticed that she didn’t have the camera. She must of set it down when we were having the problem with the chair. The flight from Shanghai to Los Angeles was about 11 hours. We had trouble sleeping this time. The food wasn’t as good as the flight to China and they didn’t give any snacks out. The flight itself was pretty smooth. When we landed in Los Angeles we had a 10 hour layover so we just wondered around for awhile until it was time for us to check in with Delta. While we were waiting Jenni saw Jamie Lee Curtis get off of another plane. When it started getting closer to boarding time we went over by the gate to wait. I started talking to some people that seemed interested in the stem cell injections. When we got onto the plane and got seated we waited and waited for the plane to take off. After a while they came and got Jenni and took her down under the plane because they had my wheel chair jammed in the cargo door and couldn’t get unstuck. She had to tell them how to get the back to recline so they could get it into the plane. I like flying with Delta/Song because they have TV screens on the back of all the seats and you can listen to music or watch movies or TV shows. When we got to Orlando, Fl, we went to claim our baggage and it was all there except my manual chair, but Delta said that when it gets there from LA they would deliver it to our house.

Summary of the trip to China

When we were making arrangements to go to China
 I was a worried about this being a big scam. We did a lot of research about the hospital and we talked to some of the people that had been to china already. You can never be too careful now a days. After all the research we did we felt a lot better about the whole trip. We also had some fears of going to China. I had heard so many different rumors about it being such a bad place. But after being there for almost six weeks I now know that most of the rumors that I heard are not true. I fell in love with Qingdao and the whole way of life. We made some really good friends there and we can’t wait to go back. But this time we go back I think we are going to stay for a whole year. I would have to say that it was the best thing that I have done since I have been injured. Now that I have done it I won’t have to wonder what if.

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EMAILS:

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Dear Mr. Allen,

I will call you tonight. It seems the Beike group will accept you as their
second spinal cord patient and you will just pay  for four
injections of stem cells over a 25 day period and rehabilitation - this is
the recommended time period of stay and injections but some people opt for
more after being here.  If you decide you want extra treatment while here
you can add money for a longer stay to have more injections. Let's talk
about it more when I call you tonight my time, morning your time to see if
you would like to make the journey.

Thank you.

- Jon


----- Original Message -----
From: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
To: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please


> are you there i had a international calling block on my phone i wont be
> able to make calls there for 3-5 buisness days but i can be reached at 386
> xxxxxxxx or 386 xxxxxxx between 6am and 10pm EST
> im located at 658 elwood st Deltona, FL 32725
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
> To: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:04 PM
> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>
>
>> Mr. Allen,
>>
>> Please feel free to call me if you get this before you go to sleep. Best
>> to call me on 011xxxxxxxxxx4. I can also call you if you give me a
>> phone number and good times to call.
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>> - Jon
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>> To: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:49 PM
>> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>
>>
>>> can i call u know or is it to late ?
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>>> To: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 10:25 AM
>>> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>>
>>>
>>>> Mr. Allen,
>>>>
>>>> That is helpful. I think this should be fine. I will come back to you
>>>> soon with an answer on if they are ready  to take you. It might be
>>>> easiest to move forward with a conversation with Dr. Hu but I will work
>>>> on it with him as well for you.
>>>>
>>>> The middle of February will be the best timing for you to come if they
>>>> think they can help you to get improvement.
>>>>
>>>> Thank you.
>>>>
>>>> - Jon
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>>>> To: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 10:03 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> here is my mri report do i need actual films?
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>>>>> To: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 5:49 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Mr. Allen,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The mail to China is too slow unless you send by UPS but that may be
>>>>>> expensive. It would be easiest if you could scan it in but if not,
>>>>>> please
>>>>>> send it by UPS or Fed Ex to the address for the Dr. Hu of the Beike
>>>>>> group
>>>>>> below.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dr. Sean Hu
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Beike Biotech Company Limited
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      3rd Floor, West Wing, Shen Zhen-Hong Kong Research Center,
>>>>>> Hi-Tech
>>>>>> Industrial Park, Nan Shan District
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Shen Zhen, China  518057 -  Phone: +xxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When would you consider going if they will take you for treatment?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - Jon
----- Original Message -----
From: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
To: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 6:20 AM
Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please


>i can pick it up monday a copy of mri can i mail a copy?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
> To: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 10:07 AM
> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>
>
>> Mr. Allen,
>>
>> Please see the attached information on the treatment. Any chance you have
>> an
>> MRI in digital format so I can check if the Beike group thinks they may
>> be
>> able to help you to get improvement?
>>
>> You must understand there is no guarantee that there will be improvement.
>> Some people get it and some people don't. Also, you will need to have
>> someone to come to China to accompany you during the treatments - which I
>> am
>> sure does not come as a suprise to you.
>>
>> Please feel free to contact Judit whose baby had a stroke and has had
>> improvement from the Beike treatment - judit@safecase.hu and Steve who
>> has
>> ALS and had improvement woodydog@aol.com. He will probably only give you
>> a
>> phone number for you to call him as he does not like e-mail. Bob who had
>> ALS
>> and had a little improvement popeye462@yahoo.com. And Lou who had some
>> decent improvement and has ALS - loulotger@earthlink.net.
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>> - Jon
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>> To: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 10:15 PM
>> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>
>>
>>> The 1st link is the injections ? how do i sign up?
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>>> To: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>>> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 6:55 AM
>>> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>>
>>>
>>>> Dear Mr. Allen,
>>>>
>>>> You can go to see Dr. Huang for a surgery with OEC cells for US $20,000
>>>> or you could consider first going to Nan Shan hospital with the Beike
>>>> group which will involve no surgery but at least four injections of
>>>> stem
>>>> cells in your spinal cord fluid. This is the treatment, this guy got
>>>> http://www.stemcellschina.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=4.
>>>> Here is a case that Dr. Huang did
>>>> http://www.stemcellschina.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=15.
>>>> This will cost US  just to pay for the hospital bills if you come
>>>> in February or early March as they are just starting to treat foreign
>>>> patients with this treatment. After they have a couple good case
>>>> studies
>>>> of foreign patients - people who are willing to let others talk about
>>>> the
>>>> treatment if they get improvement, they will charge what they do for
>>>> other treatments for ALS, stroke etc.Their first patient for Spinal
>>>> cord
>>>> injury will come in the middle of February.
>>>>
>>>> The time of stay for both treatments is one month and both include
>>>> rehabiliation. Neither of them guarantee results.
>>>>
>>>> Please send an e-mail to Dr. Huang's assistant Bird at
>>>> showmeneverland@gmail.com to make an appointment with him. If you are
>>>> interested in Nan Shan hospitals treatment, let me know and I will send
>>>> you more information about it along with some people to contact who
>>>> have
>>>> had the treatment for other problems like ALS and stroke.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thank you.
>>>>
>>>> - Jon
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "J.A" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>>>> To: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 6:21 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> 11-10-02 i suffered a c-5 fracture an c-6 was pushed into my chord  i
>>>>> lost at first from injury down but spent 2.5 months inpatient therapy
>>>>> then bout 2yrs outpatient therapy and have regained some movement in
>>>>> my
>>>>> arms very little grasp in my hands i have to self cath to empty my
>>>>> bladder but can feel when i have to go not much control of bowels but
>>>>> hav sensationn to go some movement in my legs and very little movement
>>>>> in toes
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Jon" <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>>>>> To: "Gerald Allen" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 3:49 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Dear Mr. Allen,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Before I introduce you to a particular hospital, can you please tell
>>>>>> me
>>>>>> what your current condition is. Your mobility in your arms, legs,
>>>>>> bladder. How much have you improved since the accident? What type of
>>>>>> rehabilation have you done? How much money are you willing to spend?
>>>>>> At
>>>>>> this point would you rather have injections than spinal cord surgery
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> inject the stem cells?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank you.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - Jon
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Gerald Allen" <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>>>>>> To: <jon@stemcellschina.com>
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 12:07 AM
>>>>>> Subject: China Stem Cell News: Info please
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This is an enquiry e-mail via http://www.stemcellschina.com from:
>>>>>>> Gerald Allen <gallen22@cfl.rr.com>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am a 27 year old incomplete c-5 c-6 spinal injury and was curious
>>>>>>> if
>>>>>>> there was any treatments you could point me towards . I really want
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> walk / enjoy life with my daughter again. incident happened on
>>>>>>> 11-10-02