Discharge Summary from the doctor

Admission Conditions: Pancy complaints of vague words and unstable gait for 6 years. Nystagmus (+); Dystagmus present; finger to nose test (+), heel-knee-shin test (+). Unable to stand with feet together and eyes either open or closed; Tandem gait is impaired; Hypotonia of four limbs; Berg scores:41

Admission Diagnosis: Spinocerebellar Ataxia

In-hospital Conditions: Pancy has accepted four times Stem Cells transplantations altogether. One time Stem cells transplantations via IV (Aug 29 2008) and three times via Lumber puncture (Sep 3 2008; Sep 8 2008; Sep 12 2008) were completed and physiotherapy treatments were performed. Now, the patient can speak words much clearer and fluenter than before. finger to nose test expressed more accurate than before. Nystagmus (-), heel-knee-shin test(-).Pancy can control balance much better on walking.Berg Scores:47

Pancy mentioned that she has experienced cold feeling of all toes for nearly 8 years. We ordered ultrasound for the arteries of both lower limbs which showed a angiosclerosis changes. After ST treatment, the condition improved a lot.

Related Lab tests were done completely. The results of Triglycerides, Cholestorol, HDL and LDL are all in normal range. The WBC account and Bacteria account were abruptly high in Urine test for 3 consistent tests. It was considered Asympomatic Bacteriuria since Pancy had no any symptoms.

Affiliated medical treatment: Physiotherapy


Pathology Result: N/A

Discharge Diagnosis: 1 Spinocerebellar Ataxia
2 Asympomatic Bacteriuria
3 Angiosclerosis of Both lower limbs

Treatment outcomes: Much Improvement

Discharge Advices: 1 Keep physiotherapy rehabilitation
2 Continue the ST treatment in 6 months.

Day 20 checking out of the hospital

We are scheduled to head home on Monday Morning 9-15--we will in the airports or on the plane for 25 plus hours. Lucy met us at the airport on August 26 and will take us to the airport on September 15.

Day 19 at the hospital-Final PT and acupuncture

Pansy, Jamie, Spencer, and I walked down to Restaurant Row Saturday night for supper--We had Lucy to write in chinese what we wanted to order. Spencer seems to rub his eyes a lot--I guess the stem cells are doing their thing. Lucy ( translator ) asks us if we would like to join her and Jack ( translator ) for supper Sunday evening 9-14 at her grandmother's home here in Qingdao. Lucy speaks perfect english--she graduates from the University here in Qingdao on September 19.

Pansy will have Physical therapy from 10 to 11AM and acupuncture and electric wave therapy from 2 to 3PM on Sunday.

Day 18 at the hospital-Improvements

Pansy will not get off the plane and go dancing as she had planned--but her quality of life has improved. She has the correct colored toes, better circulation in her feet and legs. She says her hips feel lighter--she can roll out of bed now. She is still very dizzy--she has had this condition for a number of years--this makes waking very tough. Her writing has improved--her vision has improved--she does not have the jerky eye movements. She can feel her lips--the facial nerve was repaired by the stem cells. Her speech has improved. She does not need a straw when drinking--she can drink from a cup and not cough--the coughing seems to be almost completed cured. Dr. Bing says the stem cells will be hard at work for the next 60 to 70 days and that they will be on the job for up to 6 months, so more changes might be on the way. There needs to be a lot more research on stem cells lines

Day 17 in the hospital-4th stem cell treatment

Pansy's treatment went fine on Friday--she said she felt hot all over her body.

Day 16 at the hospital

Last night ( 9-11 ) we went to dinner with 14 other people from the 8th floor. We went to a 5 star hotel restaurant about 5 miles away by taxi. The people attending were: Jamie and Spencer ( optic nerve ) from Wisconsin, Katrina and Brandon (optic nerve ) from Colorado Springs, Lisa, Rious, and Baby ( optic nerve ) from South Africa, Daryn, Tonya, and Robert (spinal cord injury ) from New Zealand, Joe and John (SCA) from Tampa, Tanya and Dave (spinal cord injury ) from Boston. Spencer and Brandon can now see after the stem cell treatments.A new patient arrived yesterday Allen ( ALS--motor neurons ) from Ireland.They had to call in extra help today ( 9-12 ) since there was problem on Wednesday with the air transportation--it seems that most everyone is to receive stem cell treatments today including Pansy.We have received two packages of moon cakes--one from Lily and one from Dr. Bing--plus there was a moon cake party this afternoon here on the 8th floor. The moon cakes are different favors: pineapple, dates, apple, chocolate and etc.--the flavor is written in chinese on top of the moon cake.

Day 15 at the hospital-Moon Cakes

Two people left today, Charles from Québec and Jarrack from Belfast. There was an air transport problem today with the stem cells arrival--the people scheduled to receive injections today will be rescheduled for Friday. Pansy said she could feel her calf muscle for the first time in years. The doctors are very pleased with her success. In fact they are saying that she has had made more improvement quicker than the other ataxia patients. She says that is due to her positive attitude.Sunday ( 9-14 ) is special day in China--it's the mid-autumn festival. It is a full moon. The people share moon cakes with family and friends. There is an ancient fairy tale: a beautiful lady, named chang'er, lives in the palace on the moon only with a white rabbit. She is lonely and unhappy because she deserted her husband on the earth, so she can fly to the heaven. But the so-called dreaming life is not that enjoyable at expense of abandoning her lover.