Seven, the Lucky Number?

It has nothing to do with luck, it has nothing to do with a number. However, we thought that since we are here risking our health eating snakes and almost live ducks, we might as well talk to the doctors and ask for an additional injection. So we did, and based upon her positive reaction on prior treatments, she will get her 7TH injection!

I mentioned it before, but to refresh your memory: each injection provides with three million cells, so we want to maximize results by putting to work the most cells possible. Of course the most cells possible will be to stay here for a year and keep on the treatment, but I guess it all lies on the next injection and future progress. China is always going to be here, but even better, the technology advances in molecular medicine is moving so fast, that we can wait for improvements on these kind of treatments. Specially since we have that other card under our sleeves, we have her own cord blood kept safely at an institution that specializes in that, CBR (http://www.cordblood.com/), and I hear so many news about exciting advances that I can only see a bright future here.

So basically what is it that we are exactly doing? Well, what Marujita is receiving are cord blood stem cells that have been donated by mothers at their moment of delivery. Those stem cells are checked for discrepancies such as viruses or any other factor that may affect their stability. They are treated for purity and then kept frozen for future use. Over the past three years, technologies have been developed that isolate the stem cells from the cord blood. These isolated stem cells from healthy type O (universal donor) cord blood produce little or no immune reactions. This research has opened new horizons for stem cell research. Cord stem cells are the safest stem cell. They are multi-potent, able to divide into a variety of cells, and they show great promise as therapies for brain injuries and disorders, especially in young people. So just imagine what her own stem cells can do; we are just going to wait patiently on order to maximize their effects.

Stem cell research has been an ongoing research for many years back. Umbilical cord stem cells have been able to provide great results. In a study done with patients undergoing umbilical cord stem cell treatments, about 85% had mild to significant improvement within a five month follow-up period. One of the first signs of improvement is muscle tone, often followed by an increased vocabulary, socialization and improved comprehension.

Marujita's condition may respond well to cord stem cells because the cells differentiate predominantly into progenitors that promote white matter repair (hence why we insisted so much on the spinal injection, so it can go straight into the nervous system.) Most of those children who have made some progress after stem cell therapy are continuing with several treatments a year. They also continue with physical, occupational and/or speech therapy. For this reason, we have faith and security that by treating her with her own stem cells in the future, her condition will be 100% reversed!

I don't want to sound boring here, or perhaps as if this is not going to work, but remember that the purpose of this blog is to both inform you of her progress and our daily life experience and to make you aware of these kind of treatments. If you recall, I mentioned that we knew about this place because a friend of a friend, who told a friend of ours, who told us. So there, you have to know this is an option and better off, you have to know this is a viable option. We are talking about curing from heart disease to atherosclerosis to diabetes to Alzheimer's, so please, keep all this details in mind for future reference.

She had her 3rd injection about 30 minutes ago this being the second lumbar. She did not fall asleep as with the sedatives as before, so the doctor told us she moved a little bit but everything came out OK anyways. Last time she slept for 15 hours with non of the typical symptoms doctors advised us (vomit, fever, hyperactivity, etc) so we will see tonight how she goes about it even though she did vomit a little bit today. This time the serum and growth factor IV had to be done through her foot because the nurses could not find a vein on her tiny little hand. The problem here is that if she does not relax her feet, the liquid does not go in, so she has to fall asleep for it to go smoothly. She looks like she will sleep now, but nurses and people keep on knocking on the door all the time. I can tell you this, if you want to drive me crazy just about now, all you have to do is a "knock, knock" on any surface and I will go berserk! I have heard of tortures, this might be an interesting one to practice, let me tell you.

I will tell you all about her night on my next blog. Today I am having some chicken wraps because with all of this Chinese food, my eyes are starting to look flat, wide shut!

I will say goodbye again, but not before thanking everybody for their hopes and constant support; this has been simply amazing, I am extremely proud to have such nice quality people around. And my family, thank you all for your emails and notes, believe it or not, they are definitely great pushes around here! As I get closer to my 38 (that is this next Sunday May 24TH) I am more convinced that the base built upon my family and friends is worth applauding for. Really, from my heart, from my mind, from my soul, thank you.

A special thank you for my eternal friend Kakum Morean for assisting on his duties of an outstanding banker and giving us a hand with an additional wire transfer to cover for the last injection.

Love you all, always ad forever!

Tuto