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Week Four: November 9 - November 14, 2008
DAY 20: SUNDAY, November 9, 2008
Another Sunday in India, and as you probably already guessed - there is no PT on Sundays. So, we “slept in” since we had a fairly late night out for what we’ve been used to here in India, and the pollution from yesterday really seems to have taken a toll on us this morning. We had a leisurely morning about the hospital and then we had a short afternoon out and about Dilli Haat - to just get out of the hospital for a bit. It was not quite as smoky as yesterday, but still plenty bad for what we’re used to back home. Kasie not feeling it as much, but it sure makes me feel asthmatic.
DAY 21: MONDAY, November 10, 2008
So just how bad is the pollution here in Delhi? Well, let me tell you…according to the paper today it’s bad. 30% increase in cases of asthma as a result; and long term exposure of course can lead to all sorts of respiratory problems – the # killer here is in fact lung cancer. The air “standards” that are in place are not even close to being met in fact, less than 36% of the time are they met. Sheesh. So despite the CNG – compressed natural gas and the “cleaner” diesel they have here, there is plenty of SO, NO, CO and CO2 floating around. And with millions of vehicles on the road, averaging 1000 new ones a day…and all the industry and burning that goes on…well it’s no wonder air pollution is such an issue. Turns out this weekends levels were ridiculously high…I kid you not - 175% of what it should be…ehgads…can’t wait for that fresh mountain air!
Anyway, back to Kasie…this mornings PT session had Kasie going through her standard exercises and stretches, she continues to have some pain in her left hip. It’s not quiet “all” the time, but every once in awhile it will “pop” and then after that certain movements cause her to feel some discomfort as well as pain, even into her back at just about her level of injury. After all the other exercises and stretching she also stood without her calipers for about 10-15 minutes in the parallel bars and then with the walker.
A quick power “rest” and some lunch and Kasie’s back down to PT for her afternoon session.
The internet is problematic at best here…and I’ve been having issues with the website when it’s up…still can’t upload stuff to it right now, and just had an email that the links to the video’s previously posted aren’t working…not sure why. So might take some time to get it all straightened out…sorry for any inconvenience.
DAY 22: TUESDAY, November 11, 2008
So this morning we thought Kasie was going to have her final procedure; so they worked her quite hard in PT. Her back has been in a lot of ‘pain’ the past several days, and today there was actually a discernable bruise where she had her last procedure. Dr. Geeta checked her out and then Shivani did some ultrasound on the spot. It felt slightly better afterwards and Kasie returned to the PT room for her standing and walking exercises. In fact it was a very exciting day in that this was the first time that Kasie walked WITHOUT her calipers. Dr. Geeta wanted to see how much leg strength she has gained. So initially she had Kasie just standing in the parallel bars like she normally does without her calipers – and of course the cowboy boots, a trademark for sure! But then she had Shivani in front of Kasie to help lock out her knees if need be, and me behind her, to catch Kasie should she fall…so sorry no pictures I was a little preoccupied. Anyway, she did it…Kasie was able to take several steps without her calipers. Yes, very exciting, but let’s all temper this with the reality of it all; it doesn’t mean she’s ready to go out walking without them, but it is an indication that with time and a great deal of continued hard work it may be possible to take more and more steps without the calipers. Then Dr. Geeta had Kasie try it again with one leg in a caliper and one leg without; and then switch legs – this will help her legs get used to that movement without the caliper while taking a step, and give her a little added stability by having one leg in a caliper.
pending upload of walking without caliper photos
Anyway, this is difficult exercise as you can imagine…and will take time, and of course someone to be able to help Kasie practice this one at home.
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. Lao Tzu
After PT we found out that they delayed her procedure until tomorrow actually, because she’s had a toothache for the last several days that they have been treating with an antibiotic and pain killer…and wanted to be sure that was “cleared” up before the procedure. Option of going to a dentist here in India – yeah out of the question...she has an appointment with hers next week. Kasie’s afternoon PT was fairly light in comparison to this morning because of how hard she worked this morning and her back being so sore.
DAY 23: WEDNESDAY, November 12, 2008
Upon concentration Kasie was able to slightly move her middle toe on her right foot this morning…oh yeah she forgot to mention it to me until today, but yesterday morning she had been able to move her big toe a bit too. Nice!
After PT it was off to Gautam Nagar for Kasie’s last procedure(s) this trip. The expectation is that she will once again be receiving two procedures at the same time today.
Kasie did indeed have two procedures today. An epidural and a DSM – deep spinal muscle injection…she hasn’t had that one before. Kasie said could feel the injections and the burning sensation during the procedure…and once again her back is quite uncomfortable…all this pain and discomfort she is feeling in her back now is a double edged sword. Kasie is now feeling these sensations below her level of injury, an area she previously could not feel these sensations. So it is “good”, in the sense that some progress is being made and some sensations are returning as a result of the stem cells reconnecting neural pathways; “bad” in the sense that the poor girl is in pain quite a bit now…and when the pain subsides, there is the residual discomfort that is constant. How very frustrating for her. Oh, Kasie said that when Dr. Ashish had her in the OT, he put a piece of paper between her toes and then had her concentrate on her feet and moving her toes and she was able to see the slight movement as the paper moved too. So after her procedures it was an afternoon at the fun and exciting Gautam Nagar…very loud today. That place not only always seems dark and dank…but it seems so hollow. Every noise throughout the entire place can be heard which can be extremely frustrating for a patient who is trying to rest and not move for 5 hours. Talk about sensory overload.
Back to NuTech after a quick sidetrip to Khan market for a few necessities, like food.
DAY 24: THURSDAY, November 13, 2008
Sisters have been coming in this morning to give stem cell injection, check BP and to find out – is Kasie really leaving today? They all seem surprised that Kasie is leaving already…and all say they are sad to see her go.
After 4 weeks in India and at NuTech, and 6 actual procedures, two of which were doubles, some great progress in physical therapy, it’s time to come home.
Kasie will have two more PT sessions today. We’ll pack, and then of course say our goodbyes to friends – patients and staff, alike. And then this evening we’ll be on our way for the long trip home…
So a final wrap up of this day...and the entire trip in a day or so...and I'll fix the video uplinks, etc. once we get home...mere words cannot describe what she experiences here, and what I have been able to witness in her and the other patients here...
Anyway, thanks for tuning in, your continued support, and following Kasie's incredibly amazing journey here in India...
Namaste!
Another Sunday in India, and as you probably already guessed - there is no PT on Sundays. So, we “slept in” since we had a fairly late night out for what we’ve been used to here in India, and the pollution from yesterday really seems to have taken a toll on us this morning. We had a leisurely morning about the hospital and then we had a short afternoon out and about Dilli Haat - to just get out of the hospital for a bit. It was not quite as smoky as yesterday, but still plenty bad for what we’re used to back home. Kasie not feeling it as much, but it sure makes me feel asthmatic.
DAY 21: MONDAY, November 10, 2008
So just how bad is the pollution here in Delhi? Well, let me tell you…according to the paper today it’s bad. 30% increase in cases of asthma as a result; and long term exposure of course can lead to all sorts of respiratory problems – the # killer here is in fact lung cancer. The air “standards” that are in place are not even close to being met in fact, less than 36% of the time are they met. Sheesh. So despite the CNG – compressed natural gas and the “cleaner” diesel they have here, there is plenty of SO, NO, CO and CO2 floating around. And with millions of vehicles on the road, averaging 1000 new ones a day…and all the industry and burning that goes on…well it’s no wonder air pollution is such an issue. Turns out this weekends levels were ridiculously high…I kid you not - 175% of what it should be…ehgads…can’t wait for that fresh mountain air!
Anyway, back to Kasie…this mornings PT session had Kasie going through her standard exercises and stretches, she continues to have some pain in her left hip. It’s not quiet “all” the time, but every once in awhile it will “pop” and then after that certain movements cause her to feel some discomfort as well as pain, even into her back at just about her level of injury. After all the other exercises and stretching she also stood without her calipers for about 10-15 minutes in the parallel bars and then with the walker.
A quick power “rest” and some lunch and Kasie’s back down to PT for her afternoon session.
The internet is problematic at best here…and I’ve been having issues with the website when it’s up…still can’t upload stuff to it right now, and just had an email that the links to the video’s previously posted aren’t working…not sure why. So might take some time to get it all straightened out…sorry for any inconvenience.
DAY 22: TUESDAY, November 11, 2008
So this morning we thought Kasie was going to have her final procedure; so they worked her quite hard in PT. Her back has been in a lot of ‘pain’ the past several days, and today there was actually a discernable bruise where she had her last procedure. Dr. Geeta checked her out and then Shivani did some ultrasound on the spot. It felt slightly better afterwards and Kasie returned to the PT room for her standing and walking exercises. In fact it was a very exciting day in that this was the first time that Kasie walked WITHOUT her calipers. Dr. Geeta wanted to see how much leg strength she has gained. So initially she had Kasie just standing in the parallel bars like she normally does without her calipers – and of course the cowboy boots, a trademark for sure! But then she had Shivani in front of Kasie to help lock out her knees if need be, and me behind her, to catch Kasie should she fall…so sorry no pictures I was a little preoccupied. Anyway, she did it…Kasie was able to take several steps without her calipers. Yes, very exciting, but let’s all temper this with the reality of it all; it doesn’t mean she’s ready to go out walking without them, but it is an indication that with time and a great deal of continued hard work it may be possible to take more and more steps without the calipers. Then Dr. Geeta had Kasie try it again with one leg in a caliper and one leg without; and then switch legs – this will help her legs get used to that movement without the caliper while taking a step, and give her a little added stability by having one leg in a caliper.
pending upload of walking without caliper photos
Anyway, this is difficult exercise as you can imagine…and will take time, and of course someone to be able to help Kasie practice this one at home.
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. Lao Tzu
After PT we found out that they delayed her procedure until tomorrow actually, because she’s had a toothache for the last several days that they have been treating with an antibiotic and pain killer…and wanted to be sure that was “cleared” up before the procedure. Option of going to a dentist here in India – yeah out of the question...she has an appointment with hers next week. Kasie’s afternoon PT was fairly light in comparison to this morning because of how hard she worked this morning and her back being so sore.
DAY 23: WEDNESDAY, November 12, 2008
Upon concentration Kasie was able to slightly move her middle toe on her right foot this morning…oh yeah she forgot to mention it to me until today, but yesterday morning she had been able to move her big toe a bit too. Nice!
After PT it was off to Gautam Nagar for Kasie’s last procedure(s) this trip. The expectation is that she will once again be receiving two procedures at the same time today.
Kasie did indeed have two procedures today. An epidural and a DSM – deep spinal muscle injection…she hasn’t had that one before. Kasie said could feel the injections and the burning sensation during the procedure…and once again her back is quite uncomfortable…all this pain and discomfort she is feeling in her back now is a double edged sword. Kasie is now feeling these sensations below her level of injury, an area she previously could not feel these sensations. So it is “good”, in the sense that some progress is being made and some sensations are returning as a result of the stem cells reconnecting neural pathways; “bad” in the sense that the poor girl is in pain quite a bit now…and when the pain subsides, there is the residual discomfort that is constant. How very frustrating for her. Oh, Kasie said that when Dr. Ashish had her in the OT, he put a piece of paper between her toes and then had her concentrate on her feet and moving her toes and she was able to see the slight movement as the paper moved too. So after her procedures it was an afternoon at the fun and exciting Gautam Nagar…very loud today. That place not only always seems dark and dank…but it seems so hollow. Every noise throughout the entire place can be heard which can be extremely frustrating for a patient who is trying to rest and not move for 5 hours. Talk about sensory overload.
Back to NuTech after a quick sidetrip to Khan market for a few necessities, like food.
DAY 24: THURSDAY, November 13, 2008
Sisters have been coming in this morning to give stem cell injection, check BP and to find out – is Kasie really leaving today? They all seem surprised that Kasie is leaving already…and all say they are sad to see her go.
After 4 weeks in India and at NuTech, and 6 actual procedures, two of which were doubles, some great progress in physical therapy, it’s time to come home.
Kasie will have two more PT sessions today. We’ll pack, and then of course say our goodbyes to friends – patients and staff, alike. And then this evening we’ll be on our way for the long trip home…
So a final wrap up of this day...and the entire trip in a day or so...and I'll fix the video uplinks, etc. once we get home...mere words cannot describe what she experiences here, and what I have been able to witness in her and the other patients here...
Anyway, thanks for tuning in, your continued support, and following Kasie's incredibly amazing journey here in India...
Namaste!
CODivegirl |
Latest page update: made by CODivegirl
, Nov 22 2008, 8:41 PM EST
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kmomx2 | WELCOME HOME SONIA AND KASIE, | 0 | Nov 14 2008, 3:15 PM EST by kmomx2 | ||
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Thread started: Nov 14 2008, 3:15 PM EST
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As an International Flight Attendant for American Airlines for the past 20 year never has a passenger touched me the way that Sonia and Kasie died tonight.
I have not stopped thinking about meeting you on my flight from India last night, you were both truely and insperation of friendship and determination!!! Thank you so much for your story, I love the site and have learned more then I ever knew about this amazign process, Thank you again so much for touching my life tonight, you are both truely amazing!! Welcome home get settled and I will continue to be in touch on your site!! I will never forget you both, Kathleen Romagnoli Goodyear Arizona, |
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