A Tale About a Diet Coke, a Beer, Whiskey and her First injection

Although I am not "Addicted", I needed my Diet Coke. I needed my shot of caffeine without a drop of sugar, I needed to take 5 and feel at some bizarre level, back at home. You see, here, it is not that common to find such a drink, perhaps a Coke or Sprite, but not diet or light as it is called here.

Perhaps it is Columbus' fault to think he was going to get to India by going East, feeling it was a shorter way to get through sea than by land, just opposite as Alexander the Great thought. So I guess we owe it to him not to find such a venom here having declared so long ago that we are in fact, in America, too far away. But gladly for me, Diet Coke was conquered today.

I went out to a local Mart, which is something close to a Wal Mart back in the US. They pretty much had everything, but it took me longer to find a cash register to pay, than it did to pick up a couple of things. Once I was able to pay, the cashier kept on addressing me in Chinese; I mean, do I have the face? jajaj, is just the way a different culture has it, and I am glad they do because they reflect on their beliefs and traditions, something most of us either lost or take for granted. When she started scanning I saw numbers adding up; I checked my pockets and I had a fifty of the local currency. I felt fear, what if it goes over, I have not a penny more and how can I ask her to remove items to fit my budget? It was a close 43.55, and it all went good. Next time I'll with no doubt, bring more cash. My dad is laughing on my face right now, I can hear him!



OK, back to the matter.


The Day Just Before the 1st Stem Cell Injection




I posted this video which was taken the very next day we got here when the physical therapist was doing an evaluation on her. As you can see, she looks pretty much normal there, but lacks stability when sitting down. That body-mind coordination is the first thing she will improve thanks to this advanced treatment.

Today she received her first IV injection which went pretty well only after they could put a needle through a vein, on her forehead, because it was very hard for the nurse to find one on her wrist. Even though I say " her first IV injection" , I hope it is the one and only. OK, let me put it in terms anybody would understand and not get into medical details. We came to China to receive bottles of an expensive scotch whiskey such as Johnny Walker's Blue Label, not a six pack of Bud Lights.

See, the difference between an IV injection and a lumbar injection is that the former is induced straight into the bloodstream and will carry out across the body, everywhere blood flows through, whereas the latter will go straight into the nervous system which will produce better results. By going straight into the nervous system, it will repair specifically undeveloped cells, assuring the effectiveness of the treatment. Every shot is guaranteed to induce three million stem cells, so if you go right to the point, just imagine how much better it will be. If you put the same count through the bloodstream, they will produce results, no doubt, but they can be diluted throughout the body.



This next Monday, she will receive her second injection but the first lumbar one. After that we look forward to having four more injected the same way.


If you are wondering how the stem cell shot looks like, well guess what, it looks like a freaking shot of a very young 8-year old single malt scotch! You must be thinking I need one (scotch that is), and the answer is, yes; IV or lumbar, or oral, whatever will make me sleep and relax! I am hitting 18-hour days with just 6 of sleep, and man am I tired. Well, take a look at the picture so you are again well informed about this whole medical revolution:

The weekend starts already and tomorrow we are going out with some other parents to get to know the city, explore the culture and perhaps drink some real tea. It will be our first day out of this four walls since we got here and I am planning on taking full advantage of it, given that I will not be out again, Lost in Translation! By the way, if you have not seen this movie, you have to go get it. NOW!

As you might have noticed by now, the tone on my writing has fallen down a few notches, but like I said, I am tired. I don't get much sleep, and when I get to sit down to think about the whole day and write about it, I can't find that many brain cells to work with. I hope this improves fairly quick because I do not plan to go back home full of grey hair. A long beard, yes, I am not planning to shave it off and waste my resources on details like that. Right now I will sit back, relax, and have my first beer in 5 days. Wow, I just had my first sip; I almost forgot how good the damn beer tastes like! But it will be just the one, and off to lay flat on my back. Why in the world am I giving so much detail? I feel like I am a self-refreshing facebook status update!

I wish everyone a very nice and pleasant weekend, one to enjoy with your friends and family. Like Maruja used to say, family is family, the one that comes along; friends on the other hand, are the family you get to choose. How cool is that!

I want to make a quick quote. Again, for some reason, it just popped up:

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around for a while, you could miss it"

Ferris Bueller, from the Motion Picture "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" 1986.

Over and out, CHEERS!