Sorry for the long absents but a lot of new things have been going on and life sometimes fills the day and before you know it a year went by.
Anyway, its been a year and five months since my treatment. Little has changed. I still have some movement in my hips but that seems to be it. I was having some pain, but that seems to have be gone or I am now use to it I dont think about it.
I slowed down going to PT, but still am working at home. I will be starting back with PT soon now that the weather is getting nicer.
I am still very hopeful that I will still get better and happy that I started the process. If it takes 10 years to work, at least in 10 years I can say I am glad I started 10 years ago.
Other news, one year ago, my wife and I gave birth to a boy. He is now one years old and doing fine. He loves sitting in my wheelchair and push it around. We saved the cord blood and got thousands of stem cells. The Xcell center will not use these stem cells, but we will have them for our son or maybe later to use for me in another treatment.
I am planning a fund raiser soon to start saving for my next treatment. SO far the costs are $7638.00 for the treatment, $978.00 for airfare and $1173.00 for hotel/hospital stay. My fund goal is $10,000 and would like to go in September 2010.
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( 3 / 256 )Hello family and friends,
“It’s alive”….We all know that famous quote from the 1818 Frankenstein novel written by the British author Mary Shelley. Lucky for me I did not have the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein, who learns how to create life from salvaged body part. I did have some great scientists and doctors at the Xcell Center in Koln Germany who created hope for a better life using my own stem cells. We all have heard or read that stem cells will become the body’s therapeutic miracle workers, regenerating tissues and organs damaged by disease, trauma, or aging.
I have some great news. My stem cell treatment is working for me. During my physical therapy at NW Rehabilitation there have been some improvements with me being able to move my muscles and other improvements. Some of my improvements are sensation to light touch at a lower level then prior to my treatment. At the start of physical therapy I was impaired at T-10 and to date I have some feeling down to T-11. My strength at the start, I had no movement below level of injury and to date I have a trace (1/5) of hip re-flexion. This was shown on the bio-feedback which register's musical movement. The range of motion in both my left and right legs has also improved. After the stem cell treatment, I started to have a lot of muscle spasms which has decreased some. My left leg pain had seemed to peak and it is not as painful. I am not sure if it has decreased or I am becoming accustomed to the new sensations and accept it better. Both pain and spasms may or may not be a result of getting better, but they both are new after my stem cell treatment. One of the hardest parts of my therapies is the mental stress of thinking about moving my legs. Weather I am laying on the therapeutic table or hanging in the harness on the treadmill, thinking of lifting and moving my legs and feet is hard. I don't think about moving my arms or head, I just do it. So this is a new work out for me, but one that I am happy to do.
While these improvements may not seem like much to some, and I won’t be ballroom dancing with the stars anytime soon, Cheyloa and I see these improvements as huge steps forward in progress, and are excited and optimistic for the future. As I continue with my hard work, I will see improvements and growth of the nerve cells in my spinal cord and I know that with out the support of all of you who helped me along the way that this would not have been possible.
Next week I will start the next step in my healing process by going to acupuncture at Dr. Silva’s office with my acupuncturist Benson. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that a life-force energy qi (chi) permeates all living things through meridian channels punctuated by acupuncture points. Stimulating these points promotes health and regeneration-enhancing qi (chi) flow. There are many benefits form acupuncture, Benson and Dr. Silva believes and research has shown acupuncture for spinal cord injury had beneficial outcomes, including reduction in muscle spasms, some increased sensation, improved bladder, bowel function and relief to chronic pain. I once was a skeptic, Dr. Silva and Benson’s treatments have helped problems with my bladder, migraines, arm pain and back pain. Using old school acupuncture medical techniques with the new stem cell medical treatments is entering a new era of medical treatment and I am hopeful for the future. Some studies have shown that acupuncture can restore some function in both acute and chronic spinal cord injuries and acupuncture has extensive growth-control effects and can trigger stem cells into action.
Although my progress is at the tip-of-the-iceberg, I understand that stem cell treatments, physical therapy, acupuncture, a good attitude, healthy lifestyle, spiritual awareness and support from family and friends will play an ever-growing role in my efforts to restore function. As I continue to improve, I look forward to taking advantage of various therapies to maximize the healing potential of both the transplanted stem cells and those endogenously produced from within.
I also plan to return to the Xcell center for additional stem cell treatments and will be working on fund raising efforts to help pay for the treatment cost. So many of you have helped me and many have exceeded any remote hope of raising as much funds as we were able to do. I understand that with a bleak outlook on our economy, we all have to watch our finances. I reach out to each and every one of you to help again. I am open to any suggestions, help and donations that you would be willing to offer. Many of you know that I design websites and have a small web design company called Chase Webpage Designs. If you, someone you know or you know of a company that needs a website, pass my information along to those interested, I would love to earn as much as I can to put towards my next treatment.
Again, I want to thank all my friends and family who have helped me and who are following my progress. I can not say enough about how much I appreciate and love all the help and support everyone has given to me.
Anthony Chase
http://www.anthonychase.org
http://www.chasewebpagedesigns.com
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( 2.9 / 949 )
Photo of me waiting for X-Cell Center Transportation
I op-out of a van, so I transfered into a car.
My last chance to run.
Waiting for the lift.
After my treatrment.
All is good.
Happy all went well.
Where my stem cells were placed.
Me sleeping.
Three hour sleep
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( 2.9 / 718 )Hello everyone.
Sorry that I have not written in my Blog for some time. I have some great news to share. I have started physical Therapy at North West Rehabilitation in Salem Oregon. We are working on my range of motion, stretching and simulating walking on a treadmill.
My left leg feels cramped or numb like it is asleep. Since my treatment I have been having more musical spasms. These are new feelings and sensations since the stem cell treatment. I am told the first thing I should feel is pain. But what is pain? I think what I have could be painful to some people, but it may not be for me.
So, I will continue with my PT and other exercises to help me walk again. I have great hope that I did the right thing and if things continue improving, I will consider returning to Germany for a second treatment.
Looking forward.
I am very optimistic that the stem cells are working and that they are slowly growing and new nerves are being rewired in my spinal cord. I could have a second treatment after nine to twelve months from my first treatment. The cost of this treatment is $6545.00 euros and at today’s currency exchange is $ 8,736.91 USD. That is at an exchange rate of $1.33 US to Euro. I hope that as the US economy gets better that the rate will go down or at least be equal to each other. So, I am starting my new fund raising efforts in the hopes that I can again help pay for the treatment. My target date for a second treatment is the week of August 16th through 22nd 2009. So, I ask all who are following my progress to spread the word to all your friends and family asking for their help and prayers.
Again, thank you so very much for all your help and prayers and continued support.
Anthony Chase
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( 2.9 / 613 )Hello Family and Friends,
I am back from Germany and I am just now getting back to my time zone and sleeping times. Sorry that I have not wrote anything before this Blog.
I had the stem cell treatment on Thursday October 2nd, 2008. All went very well. After getting the stem cells, I had to stay in the hospital for two hours and then I had to lie down for five more hours at the hotel.
I really did not have any bad side effects. I did get a headache which feels like it had ended last night some time. I also had some back and neck pain and my leg muscles spasms are more active. This is from getting the injection into my spinal cord.
I will be starting physical therapy here in the week or two so that it will send the signals to the damaged area which should tell the stem cells to fix this damaged area.
Germany was great, we got to see a lot of things and eat a lot of good foods. The baked goods and pastries were wonderful and very good. Oh, how I will miss that… L
So, please check back soon, I will keep my Blog updated as I work towards my goal to walk some day.
Thanks again for sharing in my dream. Also, please sign my Guest Book so that I can send you updates via e-mails.
Love Anthony Chase
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( 2.9 / 631 )Just wanted to send a quick note to let everyone know that the first step in my stem cell treatment went well. I had the extraction of my bone marrow Tuesday morning, and the Dr said that all went well. They usually extract 20 tubes of marrow, but they were able to extract 30, so that mean the chance of getting more stem cells and having more stem cells for the injection. Thurs morning I am scheduled for the injection.
Again, thank you for everyones help .
Anthony
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( 3 / 709 )Hello all!
We have made it to Koln Germany. What a trip so far!
We have settled into our hotel here in Germany and plan on doing some site seeing Sunday and Monday.
Tony’s first appointment is Tues 9/30 at 9am our time here. Keep in mind that we are 10 hrs ahead of you back home. This will be a long appt. day. We will meet with the Dr’s to discuss the details of the treatment, do any pre-treatment blood tests and have the bone marrow extracted under general anesthesia. I suspect this will take most of the day. I will try to send out an email that night to let you all know how he did and how it went.
Thurs 10/2 at 1pm is his next appt when the cell application procedure Lumbar Puncture under general anesthesia will take place.
After a few days of r-n-r we will then head back home so that he can start his physical therapy asap.
We are doing good and enjoying the time we have spent traveling and seeing the sites before his treatment.
I will send out an email to update you all after he has had his treatment to let you know of any changes to his condition.
Again, thank you all for your support and prayers, without them this would not be possible.
All our love to you all!!!
Cheyloa & Anthony (aka Tony)
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( 2.9 / 624 )Dear Family and Friends,
The day is coming and my excitement, fear and anxiety is all mixed up inside of me, that it makes me fell numb. We are leaving Salem on September 19th, at 6:00 AM. This will give us an extra day to enjoy Germany and the surrounding areas before the Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Injection procedures begin.
People are asking how I feel about having this medical treatment and what the possibilities would be. Right now that is a hard question to for me to answer. Of course I have great hope that the Lord will bless me with the possibility that I would only need one treatment and I would be completely healed and up walking in just a few days. But when it comes to how I feel and I take the time to think about everything I have been through, all my medical problems, family issues, dealing with disability, all the barriers in life, work and family I can say this right now, I feel that I am alone.
Feeling alone is not easy for me to say nor do I think I know how to express. For all who know me, everyone sees a happy, outgoing and ambitious person. I never let the little things stop me or get me down because I think things could always be worst. I have a wonderful wife, who is very supportive, helpful and understanding. I am sure, without her in my life, I would not be here today writing this letter. I also have a wonderful family who are supportive and where there from the beginning. So, when I say I feel alone, it’s just that all these people, family, friends and even other people with a disability can not know exactly how I feel, what I am thinking or know my fear. They can never understand what I am going through. We all have our own way of thinking, feeling and we have our own problems.
Now that this process has begun, I now am in the position to do well and a lot of people are following my progress. I just hope that everything is successful and I can return with some progress to report back. I know that I am blessed, and if Lord willing I will have great news.
Our fund raising efforts have been completed and so many people have given so much money, support and prayers.
Are last two fund raising events, the garage Sale and the hamburger BBQ sack lunch went wonderful. I want to thank all that have helped and those that have gone that extra mile.
We have only had a couple of bumps in the road during our fund raising events. Our office had halted the office bake sale and we were told to remove the signs for the Garage Sale because it would be for personal gain which is not allowed on state property. It interesting to see how we were used as the example for the powerful management team to put their foot down on a good cause, but yet they turn their back or close their eyes when people sale Avon, Tupperware, cookies and candy bars for schools which all is for personal gain. But it hasn’t crushed our sprits and people were still willing to help.
Everyone in the office has been very supportive and so many of my co-workers have given me so much. I have a lot of people who I am proud to call friends.
As of today, we have raised and saved $10,243.00.
Again, thank you for all your tremendous support. Without, I could have not come this far!
Make sure you check back soon for new Blogs and Photos.
Anthony Chase
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( 3 / 590 )Hello family and friends,
When we started the process of raising money for my treatment we really did not expect the world wide attention it has received. Everyone has said that the website looks great and that it has fantastic information. People from all over the world have visited my web site, places like England, France, Germany, Switzerland and even Nicaragua.
I have been in contact via email with a fellow spinal cord injury person; she is a woman from Nicaragua. We have talked about our injuries and I have been able to give her more information about the treatment I will be getting.
In a surprising positive turn of events, this process has brought my family closer together, friendships have been revisited and new contacts from around the world have been made. I have been able to reconnect with a cousin that I have not seen since I was about three years old.
All this reminds me of a story that I read in the bible, Mark 2:1-3.
“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them”.
When tragedy happens, the wind can be knocked out of your sails. You can become bitter, withdrawn, sullen, full of blame and almost impossible to live with. People, who become that way, have few friends. But the paralytic at Capernaum must have had good friends willing to help. Like him, I have a lot of family and friends and each day, I am meeting and making new friends.
I recently heard a saying that I agree with:
“What happens in you is more important then what happened to you.” And
“The same wind that uproots a tree lifts a bird.”
Despite my suffering, I had not permitted my spirit to become bitter, that’s why I have lots of family and friends willing to help. Nasty people don’t get carried around voluntarily.
So I ask, how about you? Whether able or disabled, do you have a sweet and joyful spirit that invites others to be your friend?
Our fund raising events are well underway and going very well.
Over the weekend of August 2nd and 3rd, we had a very successful garage sale and raise a whopping $600.00!
This week of August 4th, we are having a Bake Sale at our office, the food and purchases are going good. Everyone is extremely supportive and enjoying all the donated goodies brought in by the many wonderful people we have the pleasure to work beside. We work with truly amazing individuals!
We are planning a second garage sale for September 12th thru the 14th. This will be hosted at the home of another wonderful fellow co-worker:
4943 Silverton Rd NE Salem Or 97305 from 9am – 5pm daily.
We feel extremely blessed and grateful for all the donations, participation, and support we have received from friends, family and our community. The outpour has been simply amazing and leaves us speechless.
Our deepest gratitude goes out to all of you!
Keep spreading the word about my treatment!
Anthony Chase
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( 3 / 533 )Hello Family and Friends,
Again thank you for your help and spreading the word.
I have great news. The cost of the medical procedure is only $10,000.00, not the $16,000.00 that is quoted on X-Cell Center's website.
Love Anthony Chase
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( 3.1 / 610 )
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