The naked man on the floor

The Stem Cell Ward is a busy place. Everyday there are patients leaving to return home and new patients coming in for the first or second time. It frequently resembles a bustling hotel.

My Aunt Lucy visited this morning. I was giving her a tour of the facilities and as we were walking by one of the rooms we heard a voice calling out rather urgently for someone to come in. Aunt Lucy, forever the good samaritan, suggested that we should investigate because she feared that the man behind the door has fallen down and was calling for help. As we gingerly opened the door, we spied a man, totally in the buff, sitting on the floor with his back towards us. After recovering from our shock, I remembered being told that this man was the bete noire of the ward. I quickly led Aunt Lucy out of the room and told her that he was not quite right in the head. Then I went to the office to alert the Beike staff. They apologized profusely and said that Mr. Au Naturel was having emotional problems and that he has had these problems even before his arrival at Nanshan. He was threatening the staff that he was not going to leave after completing his treatment. They were in the process of helping him move out of the ward and into a nearby apartment.

Aside from the price of the treatment, there are other intangible "costs" associated with coming to China. First of all, it is the cultural shock of being thrown into an environment where the climate, language, food and customs are totally jarring even to the most seasoned of travelers. I've been told many times by other patients that the Chinese food here is different from the Chinese food "back home" and that they found some of the local cuisine a bit too exotic for their tastes. In all honesty, Richard and I are doing well with ordering takeouts here, but this is because we grew up eating home cooked Chinese food.

Secondly, the length of the treatment (one month) is very wearing on both the patient and caregiver. I'm use to being able to go where I like and do what I please. Daily rituals like watering my orchids, putzing around the yard or walking to the mailbox to get the mail are gone. These things may seem mundane but they keep me grounded and provide me with a sense of order and regularity. Add to this the close quarters, jet lag, construction and traffic noise, humidity, and lack of proximity to friends and relatives and, after some time, we find ourselves thinking of home.

Lastly, it is inevitable that one suffers setbacks during the course of the treatment. For Richard, it was the initial headaches and the lack of visible improvement that were disappointing. While we understand that it is naive to expect instant results, it is human nature to hope for the best. Because some patients have other health problems that are either direct or indirect sequelae of their major affliction, e.g. poor circulation, high blood pressure, etc., they are more prone to experience unforeseen illnesses during their stay. Fevers are not uncommon. However, these are dealt with swiftly and efficiently by the medical staff. Still, it is miserable to be sick and away from home.

It is not my goal to discourage prospective patients from seeking help in China. I merely hope that by sharing our experience and observations, it would serve as caveat emptor. Know that this stem cell treatment is not for everyone. It takes commitment and a positive outlook to make it a success. Having said that, I must point out that I have met more than one patient who is returning for a second time because of the fantastic results. The folks here, both medical and administrative, have been more than kind in catering to all of our wants and needs. As for Richard and I, we are optimistic that this trip is going to be a fruitful one but still, we are counting the days until we go home.