February 26, 2012

If you have a few minutes to kill, the following link is worth watching. Josh Dueck is my new hero! It's important to dangle good motivational carrots from the end of the stick and this clip gets me fired up. Check this badass out at www.wimp.com/sitski/

It's been almost seven weeks since I received my stem cell treatment. While every spinal cord injury is unique, 3 to 6 months is the predicted window of peak benefit. I continue regular physical therapy and weight training as well as hand cycling several days each week. I am also attending the Neuromuscular Connection, a clinic in Orange County that's using laser therapy to stimulate regeneration of neural pathways.

I'm happy to report that I continue to enjoy modest improvements in muscle function and strength in areas that were already active. I'm also feeling slightly increased core muscle recruitment below the level of my injury both in my mid-back and my abs. While the feeling of "tightness" is still fairly weak, any change-any feeling at all-is welcome. I'm also experiencing new "sensations" in my legs that, despite a continued lack of motor control or sense of touch, are encouraging just for the fact that they're new.

Thanks again for your support and prayers! I look forward to reporting further progress over the coming weeks and months.

February 6, 2012

I'm all about the gadgets. I use splints formed of thermoplastic to help me type, a wrist-activated grabber to retrieve items from the ground, and tongs made from a potato chip bag-clip and two paint sticks help me extract surface wipes from their canister. Necessity is the mother of improvisation and as a result I frequently stumble upon new and clever ways to utilize everyday objects. A bungee cord enables me to open a drawer whose handles I cannot grasp. I insert silverware into flexible irrigation pipe because the larger diameter handle is easier for my hand to hold. As a matter of fact, I'm not even typing this blog entry. I'm speaking through Dragon voice-recognition software. Despite the time I spend making corrections, using this dictation program puts text on the screen much more quickly than my painfully slow typing(which wasn't any faster when I had the use of my hands). I'm one lucky primate to have such a vast array of technology and technique available. As I work toward recovery and independence I'm always on the lookout for tricks and trinkets to help me be more productive.

January 27, 2012

A year has passed since I fell and injured my spinal cord. It's a date I'll never forget, but not exactly one that inspires jubilation. What IS cause for celebration is the fact that I'm still here! It has been a challenging year, to say the very least, but with the help of my family and friends, I've made it through. Words can't express how grateful I am for the kindness and generosity of all of you who have rallied to my support. I look to the future with hope, bolstered by the knowledge that whatever challenges I face, I am not alone.

January 10, 2011

I'm sitting in my private suite at Hospital Angeles with my Brother Dan. It's actually the nicest hospital room I've ever seen. The staff is attentive, competent, and professional. I feel that I am in good hands here. Today's stem cell procedure went well and I'll be discharged tomorrow. The doctors harvested approximately 300ml of adipose fat (I have plenty to spare), isolated the stem cells, and injected them into my cerebrospinal fluid both above and below my injury site. Some stem cells were also transplanted via IV to provide systemic benefits. I'm excited to work hard, build strength, and continue my recovery (augmented by the stem cells). I'll be watching my progress and will keep you all updated. Thank you all so much for your love and support- without you we couldn't make this happen!

Love Berkey

January 9, 2012

Happy 2012! Beginning a new year brings to mind fresh starts, resolutions for self-improvement, and commitments to making things better than they were last year. Today I am filled with the excitement of possibility. In a few hours, my brother Dan and I will drive to Mexico and check in to the Angeles Hospital for a three-day visit.

Tomorrow, The Regenerative Medicine Institute will harvest stem cells from my adipose tissue and inject them intrathecally into my cerebrospinal fluid. After the procedure I'll continue to work hard at physical therapy and we'll see what happens. Science! I'm acutely aware of the uncertainty and skepticism regarding stem cell therapy. I also know the proliferation of research and clinical trials in the field tells me of the promising results and flat-out miracles happening every day. Roll the dice with me and hope for the best!

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!