WARNING - Not for Everyone!

You may not want to watch this video or let your children watch it - lock up the men and children. I'm not trying to startle any one, but so many of you have asked me, "What are the treatments like? What do they do to you?"

Well, I thought I would show you a video of exactly what they do. If you don't like shots or needles, then just don't watch it.

There are 5 steps each time:

Clean

Cover (that's the yellow film)

Deaden (local anesthesia)

Insert the longer needle

Inject the stem cells (You hear her ask me about accepting the cells - they have to get your permission each time. Not likely you would change your mind at that stage of the game!)

I really like my little doctor, Dr. Herrero, who gives me these injections. Listen to her cute Spanish accent when she says, " Take a deep breath - Local anesthesia."

This is all there is to it - when this is over, you go home and lie flat for 3 - 4 hours.

Today I got the Trifecta - Injection in the back, IV in the arm, and booster shot in the leg. So I should sleep well tonight.

Hasta manana!

Trial Run on Video Download

I've been wondering about sending you guys some video - I know that sounds easy but trust me, it's not - too many parameters to follow. But this is my latest trial run and I believe it's working. This is the view outside our apartment from our balcony. You can see all the new buildings (including Donald's) and the Pacific Ocean and that little island with the house on it.

Now that I know how to send video, I will give you some more later.

Currency, Cars, and Cantaloupes

It's been a slow day so I picked out these 3 things in Panama to report on.

The Economy here in Panama is not feeling any downturn - it's rockin' and rolling. They are still building everywhere in the city, and every new building is taller than the existing ones. (As you can see from these pictures) People are working and every building seems like it is full so they just build more. And believe me they go to their malls as much as Texans do. The people are working and spending down here.

And of course that means they are driving as well. Even though I did remember how crazy the traffic and driving was, it's simply not believable until you see it! I am amazed every day when we get out. It would be like driving in Dallas with no rules. You can turn right or left from any lane any time, no stop signs or signals at intersections, simply beep your horn to let people know you are entering the street or their space, only thing you really stop for are people walking across any street at any time. Driving is basically a game of chicken testing who will really take a spot or right of way. And remember you're doing this in Dallas, not just Small-Town USA. What is truly incredible is that it actually works! In Dallas there would be so many wrecks and lawsuits that we would all have to be insurance agents and lawyers.

Lastly I want to report on the fruit. Not sure if they grow much fruit down here, but they have plenty of it at supermarkets and street-side vendors. Here's my report card on it:

Apples - A-

Grapes - B-

Plums - F (may be a bad batch or poor time of year but they are BAD)

Nectarines - D

Pineapples - A

Oranges - A+ (these delicious oranges have a USA sticker on them)

Cantaloupes - A

So I guess your takeaway from today is: If you come to Panama you can get a job, find plenty of good fruit, and be in great shape from walking instead of driving (or remember Rule #2 if taking a taxi).

Injection #2 tomorrow - more fresh, active stem cells.

Stem Cell Primer - NBA Style

Thought I might give you a layman's (coach's) view of stem cells. This info may not be medically accurate, but it might give you a little better insight into what we are trying to do down here.

All of us have millions of stem cells in our body working every day. That God-given process is how you grow new skin after a cut or heal up from a sprain or bruise. These stem cells work in your body to heal us and keep us healthy. Everyone has a different amount and a different strength of stem cells. Some are just born with a larger, more active "bank account" of these healing cells - that's why some can live an unhealthy lifestyle and yet stay healthy and live for many years. For example, George Burns worked and played right up to his death at age 100 while living a somewhat unhealthy lifestyle - most of us would not live to 100 living like George. He definitely had a large, active supply of stem cells.

As we age our stem cell count and effectiveness decreases (unless you are one of those with a big "bank account"), so as a result of that decrease, we don't fight off diseases and illnesses like we once did. So you may be thinking, "Why would you get some of your own stem cells injected back into your body?" (As I did after they did lipo on me and harvested my own stem cells from my fat tissue.) That's a good question.

Your stem cells that have been "tied up" in your fat tissue haven't been "working" through out your body. They have been "resting" and staying potent in your fat tissue, so when they are extracted, they are "rested" with "good legs" and ready to enter "the game" - kind of like reserves coming off the bench, but these guys aren't "bench-warmers", they are as good as the starters! It's like the original Dream Team at the '92 Olympics - when Bird, Jordan, Magic and Ewing got tired, Barkley, Robinson, Drexler, and Stockton would come in. So these stem cells coming in from my fat tissue are like Barkely & Stockton coming in the game! Not bad.

The doctors are also injecting me with donated, cord blood stem cells because those cells are really young and active. In our NBA analogy, it would be like getting new faces on the team. As good as Bird and Magic were, they couldn't win the Gold medal still today, so putting LeBron, Kobe, and D-Wade in the game is very effective.

So today I had my first spinal injection. These spinal injections are always stem cells from donated cord blood. So today I got literally millions of new cells injected into my spinal fluid to go to work through out my body trying to heal the damage that MS has done to me.

That is a coach's view of what the doctors here hope is happening with these stem cell treatments. So after my injection today, I had millions of little LeBron and Kobe healing cells enter my body - it's Showtime!

First Monday

It was probably not as exciting as First Monday in Canton, but it was my first Monday to my second round of stem cells, so it was still exciting for me. My initial doctor visit was the only thing on the agenda, but I got a little bonus. When I went to the clinic, Dr. Paz explained to me what we would be doing on this trip - 5 spinal injections and 2 IV infusions - but he also said he was going to give me 5 stem cell booster shots, and they gave me one of those today. They have discovered that your stem cells work harder after these boosters, so they have started using them with some patients on a trial basis. I was glad to be in the trial group. I told him "you can try anything on me that you think might work. I don't have too much to lose."

I have my first PT visit and first spinal injection tomorrow so it will be a full day - just full in knowing my time will be on a schedule most of the day. The longest part will be the lying flat for 3 - 4 hours after the injection. I have my iPod, thanks to Clark from last year, so I have songs and books to listen to again this year.

Not much more to tell you for today. I did think I would show you that Donald Trump has been busy working on his Trump building here in Panama City. You remember his building is the sail-shaped condo in the pictures - here it is now in March 2011 and in June 2010. I know you will sleep better now, knowing big Donald is doing more than that lousy apprentice show.

Buenas noches!

All Is Good

Well, we (Jack, Jean, and myself) made it to Panama City fine on Saturday evening. All went well, even with the anxiousness of only a 40 minute change of planes at Houston International airport - everything worked out fine. It reminded me of our 2001 football season and Coach Boyd saying "Everything is falling into place!" Of course that was usually after they had found out Denard just passed Spanish or Jarvis did make it to the bus to Texas Stadium but hadn't told me any of that.

Once our plane landed everything seemed very familar - from Victor picking us up at the airport, seeing the beautiful skyline of Panama City, having the same doorman at the apartment, coming into the same apartment with the same great view of the Pacific, and even smelling the same scent of the apartment building (not a bad smell, just a distinct one). We felt right at home, very comfortable.

This morning (Sunday) we wanted to go back to the Crossroads Bible Church so we got up with that plan. Once we were dressed, ready, and down at the street, I made a big mistake. I violated Rule #2 in the Rules of Life. Just FYI, Rule #1 in the Rules of Life is: When playing pickup basketball, NEVER choose someone wearing jeans - long ones or cut-offs! It's simply true so don't forget it. But Rule #2 in the Rules of Life, which I violated today, is: When in Panama, NEVER wave down a taxi with it's windows down! I knew better but I did it. It means that taxi doesn't have A/C and you need A/C all of the time in Panama. Sorry Jack & Jean - my bad!

But we did make it to worship at the Crossroads church (just had the sweaty, wind-blown look) and truly enjoyed it again. More familarity - got to see Keith, whose daughter is Dr. Gorman in Waxahachie. His sweet wife, Wilma, wasn't feeling well so we didn't get to see her - maybe next Sunday because we plan on returning. The singing in English and Spanish was really good again.

Monday will be my first trip to the stem cell clinic. No injections on Monday, just the initial doctor visit. Physical therapy and injections begin on Tuesday. I am ready for both.

Thank you for your prayers for a safe trip (I know that is why everything fell into place) and for good results with the stem cells. As I said last June, I want God to work through these stem cells just as He worked through the mud on the blind man's eyes and the muddy water of the river Jordan on the leprosy of Naaman - not just to help me get my legs working right again but so I may help others find a new and effective treatment to their disabilities.

Hasta mañana!(my Spanish is coming back too)

Get Your Mum - Homecoming is One Week Away

I leave for my second trip to Panama for stem cell treatments in one week - I'm really looking forward to the trip - a chance to see good friends again and a chance to gain some more improvements with this battle with MS. After spending a month there last June, we obviously got to know everyone quite well, and since coming home they have continually called and emailed to check up on me. So going back feels a little like a homecoming. I always dreaded Homecoming in football, so this may be my first non-anxiety homecoming - no dance, no mums, no distractions - that's my kind of Homecoming!

I will definitely miss everyone here, especially my new grandbaby - Gunner. He's only one week old and will be one month old when I get back - maybe he won't be walking & talking already, and I will still have some holding & rocking time. That's the reason Kathy is not going with me - she will stay and help Zac & Stephanie & Gunner when she can. Jack & Jean are going with me, and they are seasoned vets to this Panamanian travel since they came the final two weeks last year. I'm hoping Jean finds some more of those giant shrimp that she bought last year - only 2 dollars for 12 of those monsters- much better bang for your buck than those monkeys on Monkey Island!

Well, I posted today mainly to get back on the site and see if I remembered how it all worked, so I guess we are all set for the trip and the blog. Stay tuned - I'll be in touch!