Amanda Boxtel returns to Delhi, India, for stem-cell therapy.
Post blogger Amanda Boxtel, co-founder of Challenge Aspen, returns to the valley after her second trip to Delhi, India, for experimental embryonic stem-cell therapy. "Human Embryonic Stem Cells are alive and growing in my body," she blogs from afar, "infusing me with life and awakening my legs. As I near the end of my second treatment at Nutech Mediworld, I continue to regain strength. I have three days before I board my flight bound for the US. This time around, I am discovering that my body is so much more sensitive to the treatment, and I am more in tune with my bodily sensations."
Post blogger Jamie Lynn Miller ventures into terra cognita at the Pitkin County Democratic caucus. "Every 3½ years or so," she blogs, "I really care about politics. I try to care as much the 3½ years leading up to it but things get in the way – powder day after powder day, live music, another day in paradise. But I think it’s better to care, even some of the time, than to not care at all. I was watching the Democratic debates on youtube, when it suddenly occurred to me if I really wanted to be informed, or at least aware, I should watch the Republican debates as well."
Posts filed under 'Women'
I continue to feel strong and the lower half of my body is firing up with life. Every exercise I execute with Chavi each morning feels stronger. I have more control with my leg movements and I am learning to isolate different muscles. I can raise my knees up in a bent position from lying straight on the bed and amazingly, my ability to crawl backwards is consistent and powered by new muscles that have been asleep for fifteen years. With the slight use of my hip flexors, since my injury I have always been able to balance on my hands and knees and crawl forwards, but never backwards. I am astounded by my strength and new abilities. Although I am not kic king yet in the literal sense, I get a kick out of examining my limbs as they reclaim life. My hamstring on the left leg works when I least expect it, and occasionally in front of an audience. Call it performance anxiety, but I figure that muscle has been hibernating for such a long time, it will take a little while…and some more ‘waiting’ to bring it back to life in the normal sense.
Continue Reading August 12th, 2007
SNOWMASS, COLORADO (Post Time News) The Snowmass Wellness Experience kicks off its fourth year with a slate of wellness speakers on the subjects of nutrition, fitness, and spirituality & science experts–including six best-selling authors–from August 17-19, 2007.
The Swing into Wellness presented by Vitamin Cottage gourmet dinner celebration kicks off the weekend Friday, and keynote speakers Marianne Williamson and Dan Millman address audiences Saturday. Williamson examines the life-affirming principles first discussed in “A Course In Miracles” and in her forthcoming book, while Millman explores how to align one’s life to fundamental principles at the heart of every health and healing tradition in the world.
Continue Reading August 7th, 2007
Although I am not sure how to tactfully convey my ground breaking news to the world, I shall resort to the simple facts…I had my first bowel movement on my own in fifteen years last night. Yippee! I have also emptied my bladder completely on my own four times since yesterday with only a small residual of fluid left (which is normal). Now, Gab is a true friend. It was so funny I must share at least some of the facts.
Continue Reading July 29th, 2007
Today I had another stem cell procedure, which was less invasive than the previous. Dressed with my hair in a pony tail, my jeans unzipped, and a bottle green hospital gown open down the back I lay on my side in the fetal position in Dr. Ashish’s operating theater. A male assistant dressed in surgical blue stood over me like a guardian angel, holding my body in position on the two foot wide narrow table. Dr. Ashish injected two doses of stem cells into the muscles on either side of my injury site on my back…and that was it. Yes, it was over before I could count to a hundred. I was taken to my little room to rest for an hour or so with a fan humming loudly overhead, a good book, and the curry.
Continue Reading July 20th, 2007
I’m peeing! Yes, what a way to begin my communiqué, but this is a small miracle within itself. After 15 years of zero bladder control I am beginning to restore function. What most take for granted everyday (a simple tinkle into the loo) has been a silent dream of mine for years. Since my spinal tap with a massive dose of stem cells injected last Friday, I am happy to report that I have tinkled on my own sixteen times. I void approximately 50% on my own and then use my electronic stimulator to fully empty. I am hoping that with time I will be able to empty completely on my own accord. < /SPAN>I attribute the stem cells to this small but significant accomplishment. My toes on my left foot continue to wiggle ever so slightly – sometimes barely at all. A Russian neurosurgeon visiting Dr. Shroff confirmed that this is also a small miracle. After he viewed my digital MRIs and cat-scans he agreed that my new toe wiggle is something I should not be able to do at all given the massive extent of my injury. He also confirmed that the toe wiggle is not due to a muscle spasm and that I am actually doing it on my own. This was reassuring.
Continue Reading July 11th, 2007
I’m hesitant to share because my mind has a hard time wrapping around the fact that on Monday, July 2nd I had a very slight side-to-side wiggle of my third toe on the left foot. This is new and something I haven’t observed in the past 15 ½ years since becoming paralyzed. My mind wants to BELIEVE yet part of me wonders if it is muscle spasm related. My toes on the left foot have always spasmed at certain times (along with my whole leg) but in an up-and-down movement, and not sideways. Dr. Geeta Shroff, Dr. Ashish, Chavi (my PT), and Mum all witnessed this movement repeatedly and on command. Although the response was a little delayed, when I thought about it, the toe moved.
Continue Reading July 5th, 2007
Amanda Boxtel is famous for her courage, for helping to found Challenge Aspen after a fluke accident left her paralyzed and unable to walk.
But Boxtel is not about to give up: Naomi Havlen reports she is now en route to India for embryonic stem cell research banned in the United States.
Continue Reading June 18th, 2007
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