June 11, 2008

Hey friends,

So I was given my first dose of gene therapy a couple days ago. This is a therapy that uses a complex of biopolymer and gene (DNA) vector. In cases of cancer, multiple tumor suppressor genes are administered alone or in combination with chemotherapy, and /or radiation therapy. In my situation it was combined with my chemo. Let me tell ya, its been a rough couple of days. I knew beforehand that there might be flu-like symptoms such as chills and fever but DAMN...I felt like I'd been hit by a truck! I didn't count on the muscle aches and bone pain! I pretty much just had to take some aspirin and sleep it off for the past couple days. They say that it's always the worst the first time since it is new to the system, which I understand.....but DAMN!

So thankfully I'm feeling great today! I met an awesome new friend last week (John) who is here with his parents. (his dad has the cancer) He is a psychotherapist and healer in Arizona and has this wonderful energy. A few of us went to a Buddist Temple together last week and John did some healing energy work on us. He opened our heart chakras and taught us how to do it for other people. It was right up my alley! He's very soft spoken but has a dry sense of humor which I find hilarious and he's got some amazing stories! My mom and I could just sit and listen to him for hours.

Since we've been here, the patients from the U.S. have doubled, so the clinic is beginning to get crowded. They arrange it so there is a morning crew and an afternoon crew. I usually end up in the morning crew which is fine by me...git er done! But one morning, all the rooms were filled up so they gave me my IV in the lobby...ha! Only in Korea! I didn't mind since we all are like family here, but I thought it was pretty funny.

They are really quite accommodating here actually. Last night the air-conditioning in our room wasn't working so we called to get it fixed, thinking it would be done in the morning. 5 minutes later there was a knock at the door from the hotel technician at 10:30PM! He worked on it for awhile but couldn't get it to budge. 10 minutes later we had 3 people moving us to another room, offering to upgrade us (it was only a one bed...hell no!) and bringing us ice-cream for our troubles. AND they refused our tip! So sweet!

So that's the update for today. Tomorrow its more stem cell therapy and possibly gene therapy...yikes! I think it will be fine this time now that I'm more prepared. We've been told that I will be here a week or so longer than we expected so we'll need to get a visa soon. I'd rather get it all done now anyways. There is talk of a clinic opening up in the Bahamas which would be amazing to go for follow ups, but we're just taking it one step at a time for now. The goal is to get cured, so we'll do what it takes.

Hope everyone is doing well back at home! Keep those wonderful emails coming...they really make it easier for me to be away. Just knowing that I have such wonderful friends, family, AND a new husband to come home to, gives me strength to keep this fight going! I love you all so much and will be sharing more stories with you soon!

Good Journey!!
Trysh