More about the Chair

Well, I have had the chair for a couple of months now. Must say it is easy to get used to. The only fear is that the little use of normal walking will now be given up. I am sure things will gradually deteriorate from disuse. I had a flat tire last week and had to wait 2 days while it was getting fixed. Now I have requested for hard wheels, the kind that will not puncture. Let us see how that goes.

Started Using the Power Chair

Well, I have taken one more step to being officially disabled. You may prefer to say “differently abled”, but that’s just playing with words. I have taken on a power chair on trial basis. If it works out, I will buy it next month.

It is called Quantum and is made by Pride Mobility. It is small sized but heavy at 400 lbs. The battery is supposed to have a range of 30-40 kms and it has a speed of about 10 kmph. Faster than abled persons can walk – ha ha!

I have been using it to get to my workplace, which has an automatic door. From October, we are moving to an older building which does not have automatic doors. So that may prove to be a problem. I shall update on that situation as it unfolds. As of now, the power chair is proving to be a boon.

Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) Toronto is coming to assess me

I have been thinking of getting some kind of mobility device. I am not able to decide among the various brands that are available. I went a few times to the mobility aaid shop. One time, I went to a physiotherapist. Based on theur advice, I have contacted CCAC who have promised to send one of their people to assess my needs. Let us see how it goes.

Stem Cells for COPD in the Dominican Republic

One more video from CNN - as usual, half hopeful, half hoax-ful.

Stem Cells for BATTENS DISEASE

Saw this video of a famiy that has travelled to China for doing the stem cell treatment for their kid. The mother is quite hopeful sounding but the CNN people were quite discouraging.
Here is the link:

May in Toronto

There has been a slow deterioration of muscular co-ordinaion over the last months. I guess it is in the nature of ataxia to keep getting worse. So far I have been walking about with a cane, but the balance is becoming more and more of an issue. I guess I have to move to the next stage of using a wheelchair or some kind of mobile chair. I am still researching.

Saw this Video on CTV W-5

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/w-five/w-five-quest-for-a-cure/#clip142374

It is about treatment of MS. However, there are some mentions of the China stem cell treatment. As expected, the Canadian doctors are very wary.

The New Year is already Old

Just realised that I have not updated the blog in ages. Thats because nothing much has been happening. In the world of ataxia, things tend to move slowly. Like the mills of god, which grind slowly but surely.

It is also a whole year since I went to China. So it is a good time to review the progress made. If I look point-to-point from last winter to this one, things have definitely become worse. Would things have been 'worser' if I had not done the stem cell treatment? Who can say? It is more difficult to get dressed in all those recommended layers and get to work. But at least I am still working, so I guess I must be grateful for that.

Let me sign off for now.