Few weeks back I posted about first stem cell transplant in ALS patient. Last week I got a call from Emory University to take part in the trial. It’s a phase 1 trial, so it means they are testing safety of the procedure and it might not benefit me. I’m checking with my doctor whether I should try this or wait for phase 2. In either case challenges are enormous as I will have to move to Atlanta for a year or so. But I’m excited about it as finally there might be something that will help .

Many of my friends and relatives have asked me about the treatments I’m taking and my care plan. Well here it is and it’s very simple. On the medication side I take Rilutek. I don’t know how much it has helped me but I take it diligently and my doctor says that I should keep taking it. My hands and feet swell because of reduced muscle function and to keep the swelling down my caregivers massage them couple of times during the day. I don’t have any dietary restrictions so I eat whatever I want to. I’ve tried alternate therapies, but they didn’t help and so won’t write about them. Oh yes! I need help with pretty much everything that my arms and legs can’t do. But this care plan will change as my disease progresses.

My disease is relentless, whenever I feel that it has stopped progressing the very next day new symptoms appear. Now my neck muscles are starting to get weak and my breathing is getting shallow as well. For past month there have been few incidents of choking on saliva, but nothing that would scare me. I’m a trooper as well and am not letting this thing take over me.

The other day I was browsing through old pictures of mine and came across this one. It was taken in December of 2007, at that time I was walking with the help of a cane. This picture made me wish if I could for one more time hold my daughter’s hand and take a stroll with her. One thing I’ve learned from my illness is to enjoy each day of my life as I never know what tomorrow has in stock for me. Same goes for my readers as well, do the thing you always wanted to, make that trip you always wanted to or raft through waters of Colorado or take that skiing trip to Swiss Alps and the most important make sure you tell your loved ones how much you love them because one thing you can’t predict is tomorrow.

And so it begins…

For the first time in the United States, stem cells have been directly injected into the spinal cord of a patient, researchers announced Thursday.

Doctors injected stem cells from 8-week-old fetal tissue into the spine of a man in his early 60s who has advanced ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It was part of a clinical trial designed to determine whether it is safe to inject stem cells into the spinal cord and whether the cells themselves are safe.

First U.S. stem cells transplanted into spinal cord – CNN.com

It’s been a while since my last tumble to ground and chances of one happening were quite high. Well it happened today! I was enjoying a relaxing foot massage in a garden chair when this happened. During the massage my cousin lost control of my legs and the chair tipped backwards. In a split second I was of the floor and the fall sent electric sensations through my body, more so in my arms. It took me few seconds to realize what just happened. The fall has left me with a small bump on the back of my skull and some bruises on my right arm. But I was lucky as there were no broken bones and my spirits are still high!

1/22 Update: After I woke up this morning, I noticed that my neck muscles are stiff and there is slight pain in them. I hope it gets better soon.

1/24 Update: All is well.

FDA has approved another stem cell trial. Looks like 2010 is going to be an exciting year.

Under the scientific guidance of cellular biologist, Jose J. Minguell, Ph.D., the adult stem cells will be taken from the patient’s bone marrow in a simple outpatient procedure. The cells will then be processed in TCA-CT’s GMP laboratory and administered to the patient by spinal tap in one of TCA-CT’s facilities.

FDA Gives TCA Cellular Therapy Green Light to Proceed with First ALS Adult Stem Cell Trial Using Patient’s Own Stem Cells | Press Releases @ Your Story