This is my last update from Hangzhou as Gabriel, my mom and I leave early tomorrow morning. I need to get back to work on Monday and Gabriel needs to go back to school. We arrived yesterday (very late) night from Hong Kong as the flight got re-scheduled from 12:00'sh to 9:00 PM, we are so exhausted. Playing around with Gabriel always tired me out more than long hours in the office or anything else I can think of. He is a really happy little boy right now so all and everything was worth it to keep that smile on his face.
 
I saw Chris this morning but he was really tired and dozing off, he was smiley and happy to see me (and I guess I am already taking that for granted because although I love seeing that smile, I can not help but want more... i.e. those words I so look forward to). He had had his morning exercises by the two carers so he was in the middle of his nap when I got there.
 
I caught the daily morning doctors' round and there was an older English speaking doctor that I had not met before. He asked me if I saw any changes in Chris after the three injections and I said honestly that not yet. The doctor then mentioned what he saw on the CT scan they did on Chris two weeks ago and that given the very extensive and deep damages to Chris brain, any changes will be very slow to come and it will take a really long time for Chris. Well, I know all this but it's always upsetting to hear... how long is "long time", his entire life span? Anyway, I have long stopped thinking of stuff in the future like this because it paralyses me in the present. If there is one big lesson out of Chris' tragedy is this one: live today, one day at a time, doing my best now... the future will be whatever it will be. That's how I live and deal with my situation. It's the only way it works.
 
Chris' arms are very relaxed and the tone has reduced dramatically compared to before. I attribute this to the intensive PT and the carers working with Chris' range of motion constantly non-stop - not to the stem cells. But off course I do expect improvements (whatever they are) in the next 6 months. Last time from Beijing, the improvements in Chris were not noticeable until 3 - 4 months after the first injection. Chris is only half way through with 3 injections. He will get his first stem cell injection via IV tomorrow afternoon. Then two more next week before he leaves on the 18th of April.
 
I actually told the doctor that the guys in TianTan Puhua in Beijing were very skeptical about the injections via IV as they questioned whether they really reached the brain. I asked them about brain-blood barrier factor and what theirs views regarding IV vs. Spinal were... Not sure if I understood 100% what the doctor's answered but bottom line was that this is just another delivery option that would complement the spinal injections as both could reach different parts of the brain. Again, I am happy to try this extra option as there's no downside in trying everything possible.
 
In the afternoon after all of his therapies Chris was again very tired. I spent the rest of the PM telling the carers and my father everything they need to know to prep Chris for the long trip next week. I can not believe we are now close to departure time, 3 weeks have flown by and I am sure next week will be crazy for everyone including Eddie and Ryan who are flying from NY exclusively to fly back with Chris and my dad... that will be 12 time zones forward, then 8 time zones backward back to London, all in 3 days which will be the jet lag of the year... yuks. Anyway, deeply thankful to both Eddie and Ryan for stepping in to help on this final leg of the treatment.
 
I will post some pics over the weekend after I am settled home.
 
Our deepest thanks for everyone following Chris' recovery... It's a constant battle to stay hopeful and upbeat about the healing we want for Chris. But knowing that so many people cheer and care about us makes a big difference in our day to day life - at least, it does make all the difference for me.
 
More to come...