Day Fifty six – a long 8 weeks

It has been a long 8 weeks since we set of in a Qantas jet to Hong Kong and Nanshan Hospital. It is even longer since Jill was first diagnosed with Cerebella Ataxia and MSA. We have had many tearful times since we were given a sentence with no hope. Then Chris changed all that when he found www.Stemcellschina.com. Without the strength and encouragement of our family Michael, Allison & Chris and Chris & Nicole this journey may never have been.

We have had lots of ups and downs since we arrived in China. Jill’s determination and braveness to continue with the treatment has amazed me. I have seen the bravest person who is willing to try anything to change the outcome.

We had some days when everything seemed to be going backwards and yet we had that fantastic day when Jill walked with out assistance the length of the corridor at Nanshan and the day Jill wrote me a shopping list. All these things sound small but in the context we are looking at a great change.

While in China we were lucky to meet the most positive and brave people in the world today. They were all there to make their miracle happen and not sitting at home hoping that it would happen. They have become friends that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Thanks for your friendship and encouragement, Val and Jason, Robyn & Wayne, Jackie & Chris, Bill & Babs, Kath & Marion and the irrepressible Hal.
Jon’s girls were and will always be friends who looked after us from the day we arrived until we left, and Jon who must have wondered who he had when I started to write this diary. Jon my apology for the negative vibes I must have given in the early days.

Since we have been home Jill’s walking has gone backwards, but when we get the Gym going I am certain that will change. Meanwhile her speech has improved. She is spending much more time on the phone and is more confident. The writing has also continued to improve. I arrived home tonight to see her signature on the table. It was so good I asked her who wrote it. Jill laughed and said ‘me of course”

There is another group of family and friends who have continued through out the last eight weeks to visit this diary site . Their encouragement  was of tremendous value on those days when things were not so good as well as their congratulations when they saw the improvments. Pat my sister was always the first for us to read when we turned the computer on in the morning. Always full of praise and encouragement . Thanks Pat.

I have decided to continue with the diary on a weekly basis to keep every body up to date with Jill’s improvements.

See you this weekend on the net