Welcome to Don's Page!! |
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Actually Linda and I are in room 111. Our luggage got room 110. This gives us an in room TV with DVD, refrigerator and hot/cold water dispenser. You cannot drink the tap water.
We left Champaign Monday morning about 9:45 am an hour late. The plane to Chicago was a very small jet so getting in and out was very tight. We arrived in Chicago at 10:30 but it was 11:00 by the time I and my chair were unloaded. I watched 6 guys carry my chair up about 16 steps. The United representative who was to meet us did not show up so American gave us directions. It was a 15 minute walk. By the time United delivered a plane wheel chair we were boarded last and through the front door. This meant being wheeled backwards through over 30 rows of seated passengers. We sat just behind and to the side of the handicap bathroom that would not have worked for us. Not enough room. The flight left on time and flew straight north over Canada, over the
arctic Ocean, Siberia and to Beijing. We cruised at 35000 feet with an average
speed of 565 mph at times topping 600 mph. After three meals and three movies we
arrived in 13 hours 10 minutes which was 30 minutes early. By now my legs and
back spasms were very bad so the Chinese employees had a tough time keeping me
on that 18 inch wheel chair. Once they got me off the plane my power chair was
there so they picked me up and sat me in it. One man got behind and was ready to
push when I turned it on started tilting and adjusting. It is true that power
chairs are a novelty here as they all gathered about and was talking. While two
ladies escorted us we left the rest in a group still talking about the chair so
I spun 180 degrees kept going in reverse as I thanked then once again then 180
and went on out. The two ladies handled customs for us then took us to our
luggage where another group of United employees waited to help carry them out.
From there, out the door where people were waiting for passengers. we
quickly seen a man waving holding a sign WELCOME DEBALT. Close enough. They
loaded me into the back seat of a car along with Linda. The wheelchair and
luggage were put into an ambulance. With the ambulance leading with lights
flashing and we in the car following we were given a ride that would shame
Chicago Cabbies. Honk and weave. The 30 minute ride took us down a very modern
and smooth roadway with flowers and trees lining the road. Soon office buildings
and apartments came into view. Many buildings were old with window air
conditioners everywhere while some buildings were very modern. Soon we turned
off the main roadway and was on narrow streets. Bicycles were every where and
each looked 30 to 40 years old. No ten speeds sighted. Many people were waiting
on the buses and the buses we saw were crowded.
We unloaded in the back of the hospital and were shown to our floor. As I
mentioned they gave us two rooms. There are 5 patients here now. Two with ALS
and three of us with spinal injuries. The ALS patients have both had surgery.
From their descriptions of before looking at them now is amazing. Bob, who had
the hand shakes so bad is now totally steady. Mason, described his walking as a
small step then drag his other foot. He came walking up looking very normal. He
showed us he can move his fingers and arms some which before he could not. His
surgery was 14 days ago. I saw him working with a PT a few minutes ago. All
three spinal cord patients are waiting for surgery. DR Yuang is in the USA and
will return Friday. One family of the C2 vent quad told us that they are out of
fresh stem cells and will make some more this week. This could take up to 10
days. We have not been told any thing officially.
I just went for an X-ray and had my first look at the main hospital. While
our little section is neat and quiet with our nurses station and plenty of
assistants we saw hallways packed with people waiting. A lady came to take me to
X-ray. She spoke no English but it was clear to follow her. As we proceeded she
was barking at everyone then would point at me and they were jumping out of the
way. Everyone stared and it was embarrassing. Nice to be back in our clearly
sheltered little space. The X-ray machine was very modern and the room reminded
me of grade school in the late 50's. Had my first blood work. More blood work in
the morning. DR Lie looked at me and said that while nothing is for sure my
fingers and legs could both see noticeable improvement. He said they rarely have
such incomplete as myself with the leg muscle mass so intact.
Just got back from an ultra sound of kidneys and bladder. The hall ways
were much clearer. It is 4:15 PM here. On this trip I noted our floor is the
foreign patients while floors 2, 3 and 4 are VIP floors.
So far food has been fine. Scrambled eggs with onions for breakfast big Mac
and fries for lunch just like home's. Lots of fruits and salads. We are ordering
more local menu tomorrow.
An off duty nurse walked Linda to the bank where we now have Chinese Yuan.
Our first purchase was to replace our $25 power convertor from Wal Mart which
was a joke. The nurse called a store for us and within 2 hours they delivered a
really heavy duty one to our room. 210 yuan or about $22. My phone cards were 50
yuan each. 8 yuan equals $1.
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