Day after Surgery

From Nadine:

Luzita is recovering at an amazing rate. Less than 24 hours after her second surgery, she is no longer taking pain medication, and her appetite is growing with each meal. She is vibrant, laughing, and her spirit is so strong.

We went for a walk this morning in a wheelchair and had lunch outside at the cafeteria just up the hill from the Guest house.

John and Luz went for another wheelchair walk this afternoon followed by a fabulous meal. Luzita ate to bursting, really (her words...)!

John spent the day at a Parkinson's seminar in San Jose sponsored by the Parkinson's Institute, Stanford University, and the Davis Phinney Foundation. (In the picture below: Dr. Henderson, Davis Phinney, and John). Click here to learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation, whose mission it is to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson's Disease.

From John:
Our neurosurgeon Dr. Jaimie Henderson and neurologist Dr. Helen Bronte-Stewart were featured speakers along with Davis Phinney who was instrumental in facilitating our journey to Stanford. It was so good to meet Davis in person and to be able to hug and celebrate our journey together. I am excited by the research that is taking place and the breakthroughs that are on the verge of providing new therapy possibilities for individuals suffering from neurological disorders. Dr. Henderson will have a breakthrough paper published in mid-April that discusses how colored light can be targeted to affect specific cells whereas current DBS has a more generalized affect. This will allow neurosurgeons in the future to be even more precise in customizing their efforts to meet the specific needs of individuals.

It seemed like 5 - 6 hundred people attended the event. To see so many people affected by Parkinson's in the same room gave me a perspective about the disease I had not had before and gave me a way to measure Luz's condition. As Dr. Bronte-Stewart said, Luz is still at an early stage as she has no rigidity and I saw this to be true. Mixing with PD patients and their caretakers, I did feel part of a tribe of exceptional people who are moving through their experience with courage and consciousness.

OUR SCHEDULE:
Fri. 3/13: Depart from Stanford Guest House
Fri. 3/13 - Thurs. 3/19: Staying in Orinda with friends
Thur. 3/19: Return to Stanford to have Luz's staples removed
Thur. 3/19 - Sat. 3/21: Stay in San Francisco with friends
Sat. 3/21: Return home to Mt. Shasta