December 14, 2011

My first visit to the stem cell clinic! It felt strange to cross the border into Tijuana and not head west on the toll road to Ensenada, my historically frequent destination for yacht delivery and repair calls. Yesterday, my friend Dave and I headed southeast on Paseo de Los Heroes to Hospital Angeles, home of the Regenerative Medicine Institute (RMI). My appointment for electromyography and blood testing served two purposes: the tests were required as part of my application for treatment, and it provided me an opportunity to inspect the facilities first-hand and meet the medical team that would potentially treat me with stem cell therapy.

When I first considered the notion of seeking medical treatment in "TJ", I had visions of waking up on the operating table to find a fresh scar across my side as I watched my kidney being carted off to the black market of vital organs. As I researched the clinic further, my fears of being taken advantage of by charlatans and snake-oil salesmen eased. A number of affiliations with US medical schools, biotech firms, and accrediting organizations had me feeling more convinced of the clinic's legitimacy. RMI has subjected itself to institutional review, site audits, and continuing oversight by the International Cellular Medicine Society, a US-based non-profit working toward the advancement and standardization of cell-medicine.

Now that I've seen the hospital and clinic, which appear perfectly modern, clean, and well-equipped, and I've met the medical professionals who will treat me (most of whom speak fluent English), I'm ready to pull the trigger. I understand that there are risks involved and that there is no guarantee of success, but the possibility of increased recovery is worth it to me. I'll keep you posted!

December 12, 2011

A few more turns of the wrench and I'll be rolling on a new Intrepid hand cycle! Cycling has long been a favorite avocation and I'm ready to start racking up some miles on this new trike. At first, the miles will be flat and mostly downwind, but I have to start somewhere. Not only will the hand cycle be an integral part of my fitness program, it will be good for my soul! I never realized what a bike-nerd I was until I couldn't ride. I've missed the sound of the tires humming beneath me and the clean, mechanical purr of a well tuned drive-train. The moment I settled in the seat during the first fitting, I began to feel like I was back in my element. I should be riding by this weekend and will be sure to post pics as soon as I have some! Thanks again to the generous donors who made this happen, especially Cousin
Lori who ran the Chicago Marathon to raise funds for the cause!

November 30,2011

"There is nothing-absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."- The Water Rat, Wind in the Willows. Boats embody the spirit of possibility- so many places they might take you, so many things you might see and do! Many of my fondest memories involve my experiences on boats. As we drove out the Shelter Island causeway, the boatyards, marinas, and yachts stirred in me a familiar sense of wanderlust. Our destination was Challenged America, an adaptive sailing program that provides opportunities for disabled people to get out and sail, both recreationally and competitively.

We had come to the program to get my father and my sister checked out on the program's Martin 16 sailboats so they could sail as my able-bodied companion. After reviewing the rigging procedures for the two-seat, 16-foot sloops, we shoved off and set sail across Americas Cup Harbor. As we reached the open waters of San Diego Bay I heard a shout from my starboard side, "last one to the buoy is a rotten egg!" yelled Steve, the volunteer sailing with my sister. Something about the proximity of a similar boat compels sailors to coax every last bit of boat speed from the sails. The little boats handled nicely- the most fun I've had at 4 knots!

I'm excited to have been introduced to the Challenged America program and look forward to racing in disabled regattas in the near future.