Top Ten Reasons Why I'm Glad To Be Home From Nanshan Hospital

• Food is available in a wider choice than Chinese food, KFC, McDonald's, or pizza
• Folks address you in a language you understand
• You can sleep in without worrying about the hospital staff awakening you
  
• You can cross the street without getting run over
• People will hold open the elevator for you
• I can see the sun a lot more
  
• You can use your credit card to buy something without worrying, "Am I carrying enough cash?"
• Web sites are all accessible
• You don't have to decide which side of your body to insert the needle

And finally ...

• Nothing else compares with the comfort of your own bed, pillow, and blanket
  

I made my second trip to the YMCA the other day. Unlike the prior week, my muscles weren't quivering. As Lily had mentioned, I just wish I hadn't sprained my ankle and that this insomnia would go away.

May Day

We've been back for two weeks now. There's not much progress to report. Jet lag is the most formidable obstacle in our "recovery" process while our friends and family are the best facilitators. Unfortunately, Richard sprained his ankle a few days ago. Despite ice packs and elevating the foot, it is still visibly swollen and bruised. I suspect that it'll take some time to heal.

In terms of PT and OT, Richard has gone back to the local Y for his regular weight training on the different machines. As he has written in his previous post, it has been tough going. His energy level and stamina is good but not as good as when he was in Shenzhen. We attribute this to jet lag and the lack of the rigorous Nanshan PT regime. There is no OT at the moment because we're still looking for the tools needed to replicate Dr. Ye's exercises.

Jet lag has hit Richard much harder than it has hit me. He has been sleeping very badly at night and often does not drift off until dawn. He then sleeps until late morning. In a last ditch effort, he decided to take Ambien at bedtime in an attempt to reset his body clock. It has worked well the last two nights. However, on the first night, he had night terrors that woke me up. As usual with his night terrors, he did not recall the details of his dreams. However he said that it is proof enough that he is getting to the REM stage of sleep that is restorative. I will keep a close eye on his Ambien intake to make sure that it does not become a regular habit.

Today is May Day which marks the start of the Golden Week, the annual seven day national holiday in China. My thoughts wander to Nanshan and the patients on the Stem Cell Ward. It will be trying for them this coming week since the hospital will be operating with a skeleton crew. Restaurants, shops and tourist attractions will be similarly affected, but I'm sure that the Beike staff will make sure that everything is taken care of.

We head to LA this Saturday for Richard's check up with Dr. Perlman at UCLA on the following Monday. It will be interesting to see what the check up reveals.