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August 4, 2010 - Wednesday

By Bud | August 4, 2010

From Janet this time……

 

The other day Peter yelled at me to come quick!  I ran into his room and he wanted me to feel his left foot, so I started rubbing it.  He wouldn’t look down but asked me if I was touching it.  I scratched and rubbed it both lightly and hard, but still no luck.  He was pretty disappointed that he couldn’t feel my touch.  I asked him to explain the sensation and he said his foot felt “alive”.  He said it’s like…if you’re sitting at your table and someone tells you to wiggle your toes.  You just know what the exact sensation will feel like.  That is one of the things that it so un-nerving …. his legs feel so normal ….but nothing.  Peter said he gets these sensations more often at night.  But it was very exciting to just witness the process!

 

I wasn’t going to mention this, but there is another Surfer’s Myelopathy victim.  Her name is Kendal (age 15) and she lives in Spokane, Washington.  As I understand it, her grandparents and the entire extended family were on vacation in Maui.  Same diagnosis. There are no words to express our feelings.  As we get further into this, people are still asking us whether Peter hit a reef or was struck by another surfer.  It’s just hard to wrap your head around a SCI without trauma.  Please tell everyone going to Hawaii or a like place what can happen.  Never surf.

 

We’re seriously looking into stem cell treatment in China, Germany, and Israel.  Bud has talked to one young man that has been to Beike Biotech in China twice.  He’s a quadriplegic and both times he has seen a huge improvement.  The first trip he recovered some tricep and ab muscles, which have enabled him to do transfers.  The second trip he improved his bladder/bowel control. He said most people look at him and see little physical change, but his quality of life has greatly improved.  He plans to go back ASAP, but right now he is on track to finish his PHD.  The stem cell treatment requires about 4-6 weeks of treatment and therapy.  Peter is definitely not sold on stem cell, but we’re just processing through information and trying to find people that have received treatment and speak with them face to face.

 

 

Another couple of months have gone by and Peter is staying busy.  He just finished his summer semester at TCC with A’s in Trig and Chemistry.   A few weeks ago he casually mentioned to me that he was taking an on-line class at MIT.  My mind instantly started working, wondering about the cost of tuition for one class at MIT.  But all I could say was, “What class?”  He said, “Chemistry”.  Sometimes I have problems keeping up with him, but in this instance he had a good laugh at my expense and told me that anyone can go on-line at MIT and view their lectures.  Chemistry was his lecture of choice for the week.   I guess he’s watching lectures at MIT and Berkley! All free!  Now, is that cool?

 

 

Summer is speeding by and Peter will start classes at the University of Tulsa August 23^rd.  His first semester will be General Chemistry, English Literature, Spanish Intermediate II, and General Biology. I know, he’s already taken some of these classes at TCC but they only transfer as electives for TU.  With the labs included it is about 15 hours.  He was able to meet with Disability Services at TU a couple of weeks ago, and since parts of the campus are 100 years old, some of the buildings will be challenging for a wheel chair.  His “power chair” finally arrived and we’ll have the van re-fitted.  With the power chair the existing seat will completely come out and an EZ lock system will be installed.  He’ll just wheel in underneath the steering wheel, and then the chair will lock down.  On the longer trips we can put the original seat back in, using a clipping device for us to drive.  All crash tested!   Peter believes he can get himself up and drive to TU for 8 o’clock classes and since he’ll have the power chair, he should be able to get around campus by himself. 

He’ll stay busy most of the day then come home for therapy for a few more hours. 

He’s really getting excited about starting classes at TU.  Count Down Time!!!

 

As most of you know, Peter’s friend Carl Salazar left for the Air Force Academy in June. We wish Carl all the best as he navigates this new exciting life experience.  Once again it’s been great having Wes, Cooper, and Mark home for the summer.  Peter has really enjoyed hanging out with them and Mark continues to pilot Peter down to OU for therapy.  They get their “sports talk” all in during the drive.

 

Peter continues with all the therapy and our new building and pool are getting used every day.  It is amazing to realize how chaotic Peter’s life was trying to make appointments all over Tulsa.  The building/pool was one of the best treatment ideas and follow through we have had for Peter.  He is still hard at his therapy regiment and his sensation level seems to be moving down his body.  It’s just a very slow process.

 

Thank you once again for your support and prayers.  Our family really appreciates the visits, phone calls, cards and emails.

 

He will walk again…..

Topics: Peter |