Jet Lag Does Wonders?

Second day here, super super busy. Thanks to my friend jet lag, I went to bed at 5PM woke up at 1:15AM wanting dinner, then fell back asleep and woke up again at 5AM and decided to start my day. It's amazing how much you can accomplish when you wake up so early. I had the chance to Skype with friends and family, unpack, shower, eat breakfast, and wake up one of my best friends (who got here early early this morning) all by 9:15AM. If this was last trip none of that EVER would've happened, you can ask my Mom and Hope all about that.

We woke up Ashley and Raven and it was SOO great to see them again. Raven was delirious and doesn't even remember us waking them up. Ashley almost pulled me into his bed he was so excited. It's been so much fun to be back together with Gabe and Ashley again. Ashley stopped by our room for about an hour earlier and we were talking about how neither of us have laughed quite as hard as we did playing ping pong. Gabe is actually in our room right now and has been here for about an hour. It's just like old times :) nice to be back with them again.

Dr. Shroff saw us this morning and was super excited about my walking, but kinda sad I didn't have feeling back yet. Her goal for this trip is to "attack" my brain and try to get the sensory and cognitive. Hopefully her goal will be achieved just like last time. We plan on doing a lot more procedures than last time and actually go in for our first one tomorrow. I'm doing the three day epidural-catheter in two days because they don't do procedures on Saturdays.

My Mom and I this afternoon went and got an "investigation" (also known as an EMG) done. It was a SUPER sketchy place, but hey you gotta do it. It went fine, not very sanitary and I've got some war wounds, but no problems. We get the results tomorrow morning hopefully.

Decorating, decorating, decorating. Everyone here knows our room as the decorated one. As many of you know last time we decorated too. My Mom and I say if we are living here why not make it look like we are. P.S. In the picture that is probably the best my bed will look all trip.

Time to go maybe get a ping pong game going :). As much I miss home, I've missed here just as much. It's the right time to be here, and I'm with my second family again. It's impossible to describe what it's really like over here.

Home Sweet Home?

I don't quite know what to call this place. I told my Mom we are going home, but I can't put India and home in the same sentence without it feeling weird. Gabe, who was here last time, calls it summer camp. He had the same conversation with his Dad about this being "home" and came to the conclusion, it isn't home. I think I've reached that same conclusion, this isn't home.

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was here doing everything, but obviously it wasn't. It's been four months since everyone here saw me last, and they are shocked by the results. It's such an incredible feeling to walk into a room, but it's impossible to describe to someone else. A couple of the doctors and nurses can tell on my face that there is something different, I'm alive again. They didn't see it last time I was here. My smile is bigger, my laugh is louder, I'm happier, and it's noticeable.

Of course I'm happy to be here, but I miss being home so much. This trip has been a lot harder for me to leave home. Last time it was this trip or nothing and I just didn't care about what was at home anymore, but now that I'm healthier it's hard to leave my pets, friends, family, and my everyday routines. I know this trip will be good, and I'm excited for whatever results I may get, but I have no expectations for anything. We begin our six weeks today.

The Time Has Come Again

Wow I can't believe it's already here. On Sunday afternoon my Mom and I will once again be on our way to India. It's happened so fast. As I sit at my desk writing this, I'm looking around at everything laid out on my floor ready to be put into a big empty suitcase, my cat snoring soundly on my bed, my dog coming in every five minutes because she wants attention, and my phone that keeps vibrating from friends saying their goodbyes. In three days all of this will be gone... again.
March 30th we land in New Delhi, India and will begin the second part of my treatment with human embryonic stem cells. We will be there for six weeks and are planning on being home May 18th. I'm excited and nervous all at once. Everything will be the same over there, same place that we stay, same accommodations, and same treatment. There are still no expectations for this trip. I got more than I could ever ask for last trip, I'm hoping that even more will happen and I know it will, but I am not expecting to come home with anything in specific or anything at all. Two of my really good friends, Gabe and Ashley, will be there while we are and I am so excited to see them again. This will be a whole new experience, but the same one at the same time. Another chapter in my story that I am lucky to be able to share with all of you.
Thank you for all of your support and prayers and I'm glad I am able to share my story with you as much as I can. I will keep my blog updated while we are gone, but it might take a couple days to get settled :).
Next post will be from India :)